Manuscripts of the Earl of Egmont. Diary of Viscount Percival afterwards first Earl of Egmont

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MANUSCKIPTS

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EARL OF EGMONT

DIAEY

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VISCOUNT PERCIVAL

Afterwards FIRST EARL OF EGMONT.

VOL. L 1730-1733.

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V

CONTENTS,

Page
Introduction ^

Diary - - - 1

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This Volume has been edited and passed through the
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^i

INTRODUCTION

The preliminary report on the manuscripts of the Earl of
Egmont, printed in the Appendix to the Seventh Report of the
Historical MSS. Commissioners, specifies : " Twelve foho
volumes of Diaries, 1729-30, Jan. 8, to 174-, Aug. 30," with
the remark, " They seem to be interesting." This they
prove to be, and are, moreover, exceedingly valuable as a
mirror of the times from many points of view, and particularly
from that of the Parhamentary historian.

The first four of these vellum -bound foUos furnish the
material for the present volume. The others will probably
jdeld sufficient for two more volumes of similar size and
quality.

The diarist, whose small handwriting closely covers the
pages of the folios, each of which is carefully indexed at the end,
at the time when the diary was begun, had been first Baron,
then Viscount Percival in the peerage of Ireland for a period
of fifteen years, and three years later, while the diary was
still in progress, he was advanced in the same peerage to the
dignity of an Earl by the title of Earl of Egmont, in the county
of Cork.

In 1730, when the diary starts, Lord Percival had passed
middle-age. From earliest manhood he had been con-
versant with pubUc affairs, and was intimately acquainted
with the leading pubhc men. He was a member of the
House of Commons of Great Britain, sitting, in conjunction
with his brother-in-law. Sir Philip Parker, for the borough of
Harwich : a supporter of Sir Robert Walpole, with a bias
towards independence ; and a favourite in Court circles.
Furthermore, he had long attained to fixed principles ; was
Protestant, pious and philanthropic ; musical in his tastes,
and himself something of a musician ; married, to his own great
comfort and content ; father of a family of three children Uving,
who were approaching manhood and womanhood ; in easy
circumstances ; conscious of his own dignity, and weU pleased
with himseK and the conditions of his life. He said with evident
truth, when he put forward discreetly in the proper quarters a
request for advancement to the rank of an Earl, that he did it,
not on his own account, for he had no ambition, nor could
be the better for any further title, but because he thought
it an obhgation on him as a parent, now that his children were
grown up, to study their benefit and advancement in the
world, and because he surmised that, having an adequate
estate, if he were an Earl, his children would marry the better.
He obtained this step in the Irish peerage without any

VI

difficulty, after a handsome testimonial from Sir Robert
Walpole to his desert and his disinterestedness and his zeal
for his Sovereign and his Sovereign's consort, the quietly but
supremely influential Queen Caroline.

The diary is a punctihous work founded on personal
knowledge, laboriously entered up with details of events,
speeches, conversations, reflections, and the hke, both pubUc
and private and personal. The entries were made either
day by day or, possibly, on the days when he " stayed at
home," or during the evenings which he " spent in his study "
— in any case quite near to the events chronicled, when
impressions were fresh in his mind. There are periods in the
year which are hghtly passed over or omitted altogether,
chiefly those of the summer hohday months spent at his
country house at Charlton, or on visits to Bath. But when
residing in town, as was his habit for the greater part of the
year, and especially during the sessions of Parhament, his
dihgence and assiduity as a diarist are most remarkable.
For there is here no hastily traced shorthand, but everything
written out in longhand, except for a few abbreviations of fre-
quently recurring words. Some of it was also done at least
twice over, for copies of lengthy letters are occasionally entered
which set out in detail Parhamentary speeches and proceedings
for the information of his friend Dr. Marmaduke Coghill in
Ireland. One may remark, incidentally, that he expresses a
decided opinion as to the necessity of copying all letters and
the benefit arising from the practice.

The habit of the diary he appears to have acquired at an
early age. While still a boy of fifteen at school at Westminster,
writing to thank Sir Robert Southwell, his guardian, for
certain books, he adds : "I shaU employ one of them in
keeping a diary."* Between his fifteenth year, therefore,
and his forty -seventh year, when this series begins, there
may well have been other volumes of diaries which have
either not escaped destruction or have not yet come to hght.
There certainly are letters, accounts of travels, dissertations,
which wiU afford material for future reports. In the mean-
while, these twelve books of diaries may stand by themselves,
complete so far as they extend.

The second volume of the Historical MSS. Commission's
Report upon the Egmont Manuscripts affords some material
for the early years of Percival's biography. The third
baronet. Sir John Percival, dying in 1686, left a family
of young children. The eldest boy, Edward, who succeeded
him as fourth baronet, died in 1691, in his ninth year. The
second son was the diarist who, when he thus succeeded to
the baronetcy, was of the tender age of eight. He was educated
at Mr. De Moeurs' school and at Westminster. His schoolboy
letters afford ghmpses of the character he developed in manhood.

♦ Beport on Egmont MSS., Vol. II, p. 190.

Vll

His schoolwork is his " business," apart from which he " spent
as little time as he could," and when he had " nothing at all to
take him from his book he would, with all dihgence, overcome
it, that he might the sooner go to Oxford, the place of his
desire." This is the boy's own portrait of himseK ; and,
later on, from time to time, as we shall see, he is ready and
wiUing to add other strokes to the picture and to fill up details
of his character and aspirations.

In November, 1699 — when sixteen years of age — he became
" an University man." The day after the ceremonies con-
nected with this important step in life, he gave a treat to all
the College — as was incumbent on all newcomers — " but now
that this is over, treats are also over with me," he says.*
Even at this early period he has views of his own on education.
" I think what you tell me of the young Earl proceeded from
his too strict education, which was of ill consequence to some
at Westminster when I was there." He is also a critic —
"Mr. Prior's New Year's gift to the King ... is in my
opinion finely writ, and there are many flights in it that are
very charming." A Httle later, but even then not above
20 years old, he shows that he has opinions of his own as to
the construction of a play, and can state them by way of
ad vice, t He was not much of a sportsman, though he thought
pretty well of himself in this particular also. " I have
increased my skill though not my affection for shooting, for
I know how to confine this sort of recreation, and prefer those
which are more sohd." His tutor helps in the hmning of
his portrait as a University man : " The greatest occasions
of Sir John's expenses has been his love of music, which has
engaged him to have more entertainments at his chambers
than otherwise he would have had, and . . . though this has
proved expensive, yet I think it has excused himself from
drinking more than the greatest part of other conversation
would have done."

His school career and three terms at Oxford were, it ap-
pears, considered to have endowed him with " that stock
of school and University learning . . . more than suJSiciently
furnished to the use it was designed," and " in order to lay
a good foundation for the conduct of his whole life," it was
arranged that he should now set out on his travels to " survey
England." He took the best possible advice beforehand, and
the plans of routes and the forecasts of what he was to see,
west and east, make interesting and instructive reading, though
they need only be thus casually referred to here.f

In September of the same year he crossed the border into
Scotland. He himself describes§ his experiences there, which
were of a particularly unsavoury character, and deterred him

* Egmont MSS., Vol. II, p. 191.

t Ibid, p. 212.

X Ibid, pp. 193-206.

§ Ibid, p. 206.

vm

from proceeding as far as Edinburgh, according to intention.
In the following year he is found pursuing his education as
a man of the world by frequenting " the Court of Requests
and Coffee-houses."* This resort to Coffee houses and his
interest in the conversation rife there were continued in later
hfe, during the period of this diary, as is more particularly
noticed later on in this Introduction.

No youth could ever have been spoon-fed with more or
better advice by his elders. An example of this is furnishedt
by the dissertation for his benefit of his guardian, Sir Robert
Southwell — a very Polonius — on the way to obtain " fit
interest in Ireland," and the methods he must pursue there.
And one cannot but come to the conclusion that young
Percival was of the sort to take advice of this kind and to
profit by it.

When barely more than twenty years old, he commenced
his Parhamentary career as member for Cork County in the
Irish Parhament. "It is with much pleasure that the friends
to Ireland do observe your Parliamentary proceedings " —
writes a correspondent at the very beginning of his career ;J
" it is courageous, and with prudent conduct, the violation
of your natural hberties vigorously observed, and with so
much mildness and submission that your greatest enemies
are softened at it."

In the course of the years immediately following he made
the Grand Tour on the Continent, which included a stay of
some duration at Rome. Here he made the acquaintance
of artists, was the object of some adulation, and cultivated
his taste in painting, and took part in musical performances.
On his departure for England, he left behind him commissions
to be executed : " retraltos " to be painted ; busts and
statues to be bought and sent after him to England. One
of those with whom he associated and towards whom he
stood as patron there was James Gibbs, the architect, designer
of the church of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, in London, and
the Senate House and the quadrangle of King's College in
Cambridge. Gibbs says of him : "I beUeve there will come
to Rome very few that will leave such a notable character
behind them as your worthy person has done. . . . When
you went away, I am sorry I did not go along with you, though
it had been to carry a Uvery in your service. . . . The reason
why I did not beg of you to take me along with you was that
I might stay some short time longer to perfectionnate myself
in this most miserable business of architecture. "§ Gibbs,
however, found a more serviceable patron in the Earl of Mar.||

A letter of Percival's when still a young man of 24, reporting
at some length a debate which he had heard in the House of

* Egmont MSS., Vol. II, p. 207.
t Ibid, p. 208.
X Ibid, p. 218.
§ Ibid, p. 211.
U Ibid, p. 236.

Lords,* exhibits early indications of his powers of concentrated
attention and almost verbal memory — or perhaps, assiduous
note -taking — of which the diary later on in life affords so
continuous a series of examples.

The severer interests of his life, and his inclination towards
rehgious and philosophical studies and enquiries are evidenced
by his hfe-long friendship and correspondence with
Dr. Berkeley, and his musical tastes in his lighter moods
by his letters t to his female relatives.

Percival married in 1710, when 27 years of age, Catherine,
the elder daughter of Sir Phihp Parker a Morley, of Erwarton,
Suffolk, and thus fully satisfied his desire for domestic hap-
piness, and entered upon a long period of it. On marriage
he had previously pondered much, and in his own marriage,
even before he had met the wife of his choice, he took quite
a poignant interest. Two years before this event happened
he had written to a female relative : " You have often heard
me say that in a complete wife there are six things desirable,
viz., good nature, beauty, sense, breeding, birth and fortune."
He acknowledged that it was impossible to have all of these
in any one woman, so he put fortune last and family fifth in
order of necessity. " If these two cannot be had, then the
other four must join to make a man happy — good nature,
or a husband has no peace at home ; beauty, or he has no
dehght ; sense, or his affairs go to wreck ; and breeding, or
the whole world reflects on his choice." At this time, although
the suitable mate had not appeared upon the scene, he had
gone so far as to make up his mind not to pick one in Ireland.

To Dr. Berkeley he also opens his mind on this subject in
an allegory : " Marriage is a voluntary confinement, which
I desire to make as agreeable as possible, the rather because
it is a confinement for fife. I therefore would have my room
well pitched and very clean, not one that had been lain in
before, but fresh, new and fashionable. ... So much for the
walls. As to the furniture . . ."J — proceeding to labour
the allegory until, as he says, it fails him, and he drops to the
plain statement that his wife must not have red hair. This
was written not many months before his marriage, when,
however, he was still in the position of not having " found
a room " to his mind. But soon, his search was rewarded
and he secured the perfect wife. Experience justified his
choice. He confides to his diary : " This day I have been
21 years married, and I acknowledge God's blessing that
I have hved so many years in full happiness with my dear
wife." And again, on the following 20th of June : " This
day I have been married twenty-two years, and I bless God
that I have hved so long with the best wife, the best Christian,
the best mother, and the best mistress to her servants hving ;

* Egmont MSS., Vol. II, p. 218.

t Ibid, p. 240, Percival to Elizabeth Southwell.

X Ibid, p. 241.

and that not only the world thinks so, but that I am myself
sensible of it."*

With respect to the subject matter of the Diary, in order
to obtain a proper view of its value and interest, it should
be perused continuously from the first page to the last. It
would, indeed, be an easy task to pick out and marshal in
this introduction a series of extracts of exceptional interest.
But to do that is neither necessary nor expedient. It would
be mere repetition of matter better read in its place in the
pages that follow. But there are some remarks of a general
character, and a few extracts, that may be useful and not
out of place in an introductory sketch.

The four years of the portion of the Diary contained in
the present volume, 1730-1733, were early years in the reign
of King George II, during which Sir Robert Walpole was
firmly estabhshed in power. Sir Robert and his brother
Horace — or, as he is named sometimes, but not often, Horatio
— are therefore, as might be expected, prominent and frequent
figures in the scenes set for the reader. In addition, in the
poUtical arena, appear time and again Speaker Onslow, the
two Pulteneys, Wyndham, Shippen, Pelham, Jekyll, Master
of the Rolls, Sandys, Dodington, Lord Morpeth, and other
of the Parhamentary protagonists. Bohngbroke passes as
a mere shadow, casually mentioned half a dozen times. Swift,
to one's surprise, is wholly absent, and so, it may be said here,
are his friends Pope and Gay. Lord Wilmington, formerly
Speaker as Spencer Compton, often appears, and very
occasionally Lord Hervey, whose own " Memoirs " have
brilhantly illuminated the same times and done so much to
fix and colour modern ideas and conceptions of their character
and hue.

The chief historical value of the Diary will without doubt
Me in its full report at first hand of proceedings and debates,
hitherto gathered from very inadequate sources, in that
House of Parhament of which Lord Percival was a mem-
ber, the British House of Commons. He himseK spoke
but seldom, but he was an excellent listener, assiduous
in attendance, not often withdrawing until debate had come
to an end and he had recorded his vote. Occasionally, in
matters which personally interested him, he showed himseK
also active "in the lobby." Hence, in respect of the first
Parhament of George II, we have in this volume a continuous
record from the opening of the third Session. There are,
it may be pointed out, some hundred and thirty occasions
on which debates are more or less fully reported, about
which Cobbett's Parhamentary History is altogether silent.
In other instances, Cobbett reports one chief speaker only,
while Percival at least summarises most of those who took

♦ Diary, pp. 194, 281.

XL

part, and sometimes does more. Compare, for example,
pages 3-6 of this work, giving the speeches on the Address on
January 13th, 1729-30, with the meagre summary of Sir John
Hind Cotton's speech only that appears in Cobbett. Place side
by side, indeed, the respective accounts of the whole of the
third and fourth Sessions of this ParHament, and it will at
once be apparent what an addition to the knowledge of its
proceedings is made by the present work.

The principal matters that occupied the attention of
Parhament during the period were the Loans to Foreign
Princes, the Pension Bill, the number of the land forces, and
the effort to reduce the Hessian troops in British pay, the
revival of the Salt Duty, the Sale of the Derwent water Estates
and the investigations of the operations of the Charitable
Corporation, resulting in the expulsion of prominent members
of the House of Commons, the rumoured repair of the forti-
fications of Dunkirk contrary to the terms of the Treaty of
Seville, and the Excise scheme of Sir Robert Walpole, which
not even his compeUing influence was able to carry through.
Here is then a precursor of Hansard, which must be held to
be of very great value to the student of ParUamentary history
and also of ParUamentary procedure. For example, as regards
the latter there is the debate on the question whether
papers called for should be produced in original or copies of
them only, and again, the question of the introduction of the
King's name into debate. A point of interest is the explana-
tion how it came about that the Speaker first extended to
ladies the privilege of admission to the gallery of the House
to hear the speeches.*

In any political memoirs of the period under review, the
principal, the commanding figure cannot fail to be Sir Robert
Walpole. It is so here. At the same time, outside ParHament,
it is the brother Horace who is prominent ; it is through him
that approaches to the great Minister are made : it is he
chiefly who negotiates, who holds conversations, who " sounds "
people whom it is necessary to conciKate or cajole or in the last
resort compel. During the first three years of the period
of the Diary, Lord Percival's relations with the Walpoles
were extremely cordial. He was a firm supporter of the
Minister, though at times shoAving signs of independence
and discrimination. The Walpoles took pains to obtain
his support and to be on good terms with him : they aU three
dined with one another, and there was considerable social
intercourse besides. But Lord Percival never surrendered
his independence. He relates that when the King's first
Parhament was about to be summoned, he waited on his
Majesty and told him, to use his own words, " that though
loving my ease I never yet would be in Parhament, yet having
observed in all reigns that the first that was summoned was

* p. 269.

xu

always most troublesome to the Prince, I was resolved to
stand, that I might contribute my poor services to the settle-
ment of his affairs."* Hence he was no creature of the
Walpole Administration. When there was talk of a Bill
against placemen and pensioners sitting in the House of
Commons, Percival informed Horace Walpole that he would
show he was no pensioner by voting for the Bill as far as related
to them, though, he added, as to the other part concerning
placemen "I shall be for allowing them."f This resolve he
carried out, " flatly refusing to be against " the Pension Bill
when it was later on introduced, notwithstanding persuasive
influences brought to bear upon him by Sir Robert Walpole,
and an intimation that the King was " much set against "
it. J He expected, he said, in reply to this argument, that
the King would conclude from his action now " that the
zeal I have professed and shown on other occasions proceeds
from a principle. "§ Quite early in the period, he indulges
himself with the following mordant criticism of the famous
Minister : —

Sir Robert Walpole . . . found there are certain occasions
where he cannot carry points ; it is this meanness of his (the prostitu-
tion of the character of a first Minister in assisting and strenuously
supporting the defence of dunghill worms, let their cause be ever so
unjiist, against men of honour, birth, and fortune, and that in person
too), that gains him so much ill-will; formerly, when the first Minister
appeared in any matter, he did it with gravity, and the honour and
service of the Crown appeared to be concerned, but Sir Robert, like
the altars of refuge in old times, is the asylum of little unworthy
wretches who, submitting to dirty work, endear themselves to him,
and get his protection first, and then his favour, which as he is first
Minister, is sure to draw after it the countenance of the Court. In
the meantime the world who know the insignificancy, to say no worse,
of these sort of tools, are in indignation to see them preferred and
cherished beyond men of character and fortune, and set off in a better
light to the King ; and this with men of small experience, which are
the bulk of a nation, occasions hard thoughts of the Crown itself,
whereas in very deed the King can seldom know the merits and character
of private persons but from the first Minister, who we see has no so
great regard for any as for these little pickthanks and scrubs, for whom
he risks his character, and the character of his high station, in opposition
to the old gentry of the kingdom, and that in matters of right and wrong,
in the face of his country, namely, in Parliament. 1|

Later, the relations between the Walpoles and himself
became strained and unhappy. It may have been that he
was found in general to be too independent. But a starting
of the breach may possibly be discovered in the action of
Percival's son, afterwards the second Earl of Egmont, whose
fame ultimately surpassed that of his father.

The son showed when a young man great precocity. The
Prince of Wales spoke of him to his father, from hearsay,
as " a youth of extraordinary sense and character."^ In

* p. 20.
t V' 17.
X p. 125.
§ p. 125.
II p. 85.
^ p. 160.

xm

1730 he "surprised" his father with the discovery that he
was the author of two political pamphlets, with regard to
the authorship of which he imposed secrecy upon his father,
whose comment is that " he need not be ashamed of them,
and few children at nineteen years old would have done so
weU."* Percival took proper means to introduce his son
at the Courts of both the King and the Prince of Wales. In
1731, when he would be twenty years of age, he was despatched
to Ireland with a view of getting into ParUament there, a
design which was accomplished before the end of the year,
and towards the close of his first Session there, in the spring
of 1732, Percival was gratified by the report brought over
by a fellow member that his son was " in great esteem with
the members for his application to pubHc business, and his
speaking in the House. "f In April the son returned to Eng-
land, and was welcomed with parental affection and fervour,
the more so as by a fortunate accident of detention on account
of business he had escaped saihng in a ship that on its voyage
was cast away. As it happened, he suffered no harm on
his journey a few days later other than having to spend two
days and three nights at sea between DubUn and Park Gate.
Up to this point we have the picture of an exceedingly gratified
and pleased parent. But a few days afterwards, when Percival
" passed an evening at home," and went over the accounts
from Ireland, and learnt to his dismay that the young man
had spent nearly 2,000/. during his stay in that " cheap
country," he received a " lesson for the future, never to trust
the discretion of young men when left to themselves, let
them promise ever so fairly." The remarks he addressed
to his son are not reported, but he confides to his DiaryJ : —

I immediately put him to an allowance of 300Z. a year to begin at
Ladyday last, which is enough for him, his man, and his horse (living
with me), for all reasonable and handsome expenses. The forfeiture
of his character by the ill company he must have kept to squander
so much money away in that cheap covintry, and my disappointment
in him, who I proposed to confide in and trust all things to, as my
second self, has sunk deep and preys on my spirits, and grieves me
more than the loss of the money, but, what is worst of all, he shows
little sense of his crime, makes no declaration of future amendment,
takes no thought to reconcile himself to my good opinion.

God prevent him in all his doings and further him with continual
help. Amen.

This, however, by the way. Young Percival appears to
have been soon forgiven, and now the point is reached when,
as has been said, we get the first hint of difficulties between Sir
Robert Walpole and Lord Percival.

It will be remembered that Lord Percival states that he
himseK had entered the British Parliament on account of
special considerations which had induced him thus to express
his loyalty to the King and to aid his service. That done,

* p. 92.
t p. 242.
I V' 259.

XIV

he proposed now to retire from Parliament when its Hfe came
to an end and to put his son in his place as member for Harwich.
And for a time this design seemed to have every prospect
of success. The great Minister apparently accepted the
arrangement with approval. In pursuance of this object,
young Percival was " made free of the Corporation." Lord
and Lady Percival and a cousin accompanied him down to
Harwich for the ceremony.* The party were met by the
Mayor and several of the Corporation nine miles from the
town, and the next day Lord Percival gave the Corporation
a dinner " at Peck, the postmaster's." " I found the
Corporation very steadfast to me and very cheerful," he
relates, and all was well, merry and bright. But not for long.
Soon there were troublesome and very vexatious happenings
at Harwich itself, which culminated in the defeat of
Lord Percival's candidate for the mayoralty, and caused him
excessive annoyance and vexation of spirit, and was ominous
of what would happen in the poHtical field. The recital of
these matters and other local Harwich pohtics and proceedings
fills many pages of the Diary, but need not be specified in detail
here. Ultimately (though this event does not come within
the purview of the present volume) the younger Percival
was not elected to represent the town in the next Parhament.
How much this result and the events that led up to it were
due to the action of Sir Robert Walpole and his brother it
is impossible to say, but there is no doubt that Lord Percival
beheved that they had acted very badly and crookedly in the
business, and the breach in consequence became so marked
that the Diary records this incident : —

As I was coining out of Court, Sir Robert Walpole came in, and in
a familiar, kind sort of way asking me how I did, offered me his hand,
but I drew back mine, and in a respectful, cool, way said only to him,
" Your humble servant, sir."t

Earher in the year, some episodes in which Sir Robert
Walpole and young Percival were the actors are related,
which though to all appearances satisfactorily ended, may
well have betokened that the Walpoles were uneasy under
the independent bearing of the father and more than doubtful
of the future loyalty of the son if he should succeed his father
in Parhament. J

Both Horace and Sir Robert, even after matters had reached
the pass which such an incident as that recorded above
emphasised, made some personal efforts to induce friendher
feelings, but Lord Percival's mind still rankled from the
memory of the " ill usage " which he beheved himseK to have
suffered at their hands, particularly in the proceedings which
resulted in the defeat of " his Mayor." The most favourable
situation reached as recorded in this volume, is contained in

the entry, " So with civihty we parted."

-___ __

t P' 461.

t pp. 376-379.

XV

Percival's relations with the Royal Family during these
four years were extremely cordial. He was a constant
attendant at Court, and he and his wife and children were
the objects of special notice from the King and Queen and the
Prince of Wales, on which he repeatedly congratulates himself,
and with regard to which in one instance, at the end of the
year, he sets down seriatim the " obhgations " received from
the Court within the preceding twelve months.* His cousin,
Mary Bering, was " dresser " to the Princess Royal, and by
means of this channel also was he brought into contact with
the intimate side of the Court. The Queen often singled
him out for conversation, and the subjects they talked about
and what each said are set down in some detail. The Queen
took a personal interest in his protege and frequent guest,
Dr. Fran9ois de Courayer (whose name is consistently written
in the Diary " Couraye " or " Couraye "), whom she pensioned
and employed in the work of translation.

Entries similar to the following are numerous and concern
Sunday occupations : " Then I went to the King's Court,
and carried the sword." This was on the progress to the
chapel. The Ejng's occasional poHte speeches to him are duly
set down.

His relations with the Prince of Wales were hkewise
intimate, and his attendances at the separate Court frequent,
but he often shook a shocked head over the Prince's pro-
ceedings, proceedings that sadly grieved his lordship and
operated to " the just scandal of all sober and reMgious
folks." Of this young man of twenty -four, destined, as
was then supposed, to succeed in due course to the Crown of
England, he pens this " character " —

He has no reigning passion : if it be, it is to pass the evening with
six or seven others over a glass of wine and hear them talk of a variety
of things ; but he does not drink. He loves play, and plays to win,
that he may supply his pleasures and generosity, which last are great,
but so ill placed, that he often wants wherewith to do a well-placed
kindness, by giving to unworthy objects. He has had several mistresses,
and now keeps one, an apothecary's daughter of Kingston ; but is
not nice in his choice, and talks more of feats this way than he acts.
He can talk gravely according to his company, but is sometimes more
childish than becomes his age. He thinks he knows business, but
attends to none ; likes to be flattered. He is good-natured, and if
he meets with a good Ministry, may satisfy his people ; he is extremely
dutiful to his parents, who do not return it in love, and seem to neglect
him by letting him do as he will ; but they keep him short of money.

Another subject directly connected with the Royal Family,
on which he has much to say, relates to the personal
characteristics and illness of the Prince of Orange when he came
to England in 1733 for his marriage with the Princess Royal.

Thackeray, in his Lectures on the " Four Georges," with
reference to the period of this Diary, or at any rate to the
second King's reign as a whole, exclaims rhetorically, " What
could Walpole tell him [the King] about his Lords and

♦ p. 120.

XVI

Commons but that they were all venal ? " — and again,
" Wandering through that city of the dead, that drea(flully
selfish time, through those godless intrigues and feasts, through
those crowds, pushing and eager and struggUng — rouged
and lying and fawning — I have wanted some one to be friends
with. I have said to friends conversant with that history :
Show me some good person about that Court ; find me among
those selfish courtiers, those dissolute gay people, some one
being whom I can love and regard."

It is possible that if the famous writer had been acquainted
with the characteristics of Lord Percival as disclosed by
his Diary, he might have found the " good person about the
Court " whom in the Memoirs of Lord Hervey, the Letters
of Horace Walpole, and Cox's Life of Sir Robert Walpole, he
failed to discover. For here was a courtier who was not a
libertine, and a man who, whatever of consideration he
thought to be due to his position — not hghtly esteemed
by himself — was certainly not venal. The Diary also mirrors
the rehgious tone of mind and practice and the philanthropic
activities of Percival and his associates, " the sober and
rehgious folk," who were even then and there pursuing the even
tenor of the moral and respectable Hfe, though their personahties
and deeds naturally do not figure in the salacious memoirs of the
period. There is in the Diary abundant evidence that there were
men of earnest purpose who were not callous to the diseases of
the body pohtic (witness the enquiry into the state of the
King's Bench Prison), and who were striving to bring about
better conditions among their less fortunate fellow country-
men. Percival was one of them, and actively associated in
these projects with men of hke intention, of whom James
Edward Oglethorpe, the Colonist of Georgia, and Captain
Thomas Coram may be named as typical. In the enter-
prise of the colonisation of Georgia, Lord Percival took
an active and leading part, holding it to be a " noble, charitable,
disinterested and profitable design to the nation," on which
the " blessing of God " might fitly be invoked. The informa-
tion which the Diary gives of the proceedings of the Georgia
Society will be of the utmost value and interest to the students
of early American history.

In rehgion Percival was intensely Protestant, and perhaps
something of a formahst. No Sunday passed without
observance of the duties of prayers and sermon, and often
of " communicating " also, and if public worship was not
possible or convenient, there were invariably " prayers and
sermon " at home. In connexion with the observances of
rehgion, the following extract is of interest as stating views
which were to be held more aggressively and influentially
a century later : —

We have often heard of sermon hunters, but seldom of communion
hunters. This gentleman makes it his practice to take communion every
Sunday at some church or other, if lying within a convenient distance,

xvu

which uncommon zeal I was at a loss to account for (knowing that
however Oxford inspired him with warmth for the Church, it did not
with warmth for religious devotion), but this day I learned the reason
of his assiduity, for discoursing him of many things, among the rest
he told me that hearing sermons, though fitting, is the least of a
Christian's duty, when they meet for public worship, but that the
essential part is communicating ; that the ancient Christians never
assembled without doing it, and thought their service otherwise imper-
fect. He added that commemorating the death of our Lord is not
the principal business when we communicate, but the offering up the
elements to God, a doctrine he said our Church should have retained,
and that when we reformed we went too far.

With regard to sermons, Percival occasionally reports the
text and the exposition of it by the preacher in the pulpit.
Of any class of men, his hardest and most cynical sayings
are perhaps reserved for the clergy. The treatment of his
friend. Dr. Berkeley, by his brother ecclesiastics evoked
Percival's bitterest comment. As to his relations with
Berkeley, nothing more than a reference is needed here in
view of Dr. Rand's volume, Berkeley and Percival, pubUshed
in 1914.*

There is a very interesting aspect of Lord Percival's social
life which is described in the following passage, and which
is very fully illustrated in the Diary : —

Thursday, 19. — I spend every day two hours in the evening at the
Coffee House, with pleasure and improvement, especially in such public
places as the Bath and Tunbridge, because of the great resort of gentle-
men thither for their health or amusement, out of whom a few who
are of the same turn of conversation (after the ceremonies at making
acquaintance are over) naturally select one another out and form a sort
of society ; when the season is over, if we think it's worth the while, we
preserve the acquaintance, if not, there is no harm done, no offence
is taken. The ease with which gentlemen converse, and the variety
of their respective knowledge and experience is equally pleasing and
instructive. Tlie set I met constantly with since this last arrival at
Bath were the Speaker of the House of Commons, Dr. Gilbert, Dean of
Exeter, Dr. Carleton, a physician, Mr. Glanvil, member of the House
of Commons, and Mr. John Temple. The three former are gone, and
their room is supplied by Mr. Joy, son to a late director of the South
Sea ; but one who reads much and had University education,
Mr. Peregrine Bartue, a gentleman of estate in Suffolk or Sussex, Mr. La
Mot, chaplain to the Duke of Mountague, who was my schoolfellow at
Mr. Demeurs, and is now beneficed in Northamptonshire, and
Sir Justinian Isham, knight of the shire for that county.

A critic of a famous novelist once objected that while some
of his characters were said to talk brilliantly, the reader had
to be satisfied with the statement : there was Httle or no
evidence or confirmation to be found in the works them-
selves. In this Diary we are not put off with any mere
general statement ; the subjects of conversation and what
each speaker contributed to it are faithfully set down. The
assembled company frequently discoursed on some high
themes, but they also told some good stories. Examples
of such conversations are to be had on pages 106-7 and 1 OS-
IS. But these are not the only examples of a procedure

* Berkeley and Percival, by Benjamin Rand. Cambridge University Press,
1914.

Wt. 24408. E h

XVUl

satisfying to the reader, which later on in the century was
used to such effect by the prince of biographers, Boswell.
A subject of one of the stories told, of which there are many
about all sorts of people and personages, is Addison,* excessively
jealous of his reputation, so shy that if a single stranger chanced
to be of the company he never opened his mouth. Another
subject of more than one tale is " that monster, the King of
Prussia." It may be added that the Diary, though not in
any marked degree, is occasionally enlivened with tales spiced
with a modicum of scandal.

Music played a large part in the pleasure and interest of
Percival's life. He himseK was an instrumentaUst, and his
daughters' voices were carefully trained by the best masters.
During the winter he gave private concerts at his own house.
The company who assembled to hear and the performers,
both amateur and professional, and the instruments they
handled, are recorded, but not, it is to be regretted, the works
they performed nor the music sung. He himself was a con-
stant attendant at the opera and a hearer of the oratorios
and operas of " the more famous Hendel from Hanover, a
man of the vastest genius and skill in music that perhaps
has hved since Orpheus. "f Several of the famous musicians
of the period in England are referred to. A short account
is given of Buononcini and his career. J His lordship's opinion
of the proper earnings of a musician, sympathetic as he must
have been, are somewhat tinged however with a sense of the
profession's comparative social inferiority. A salary of five
hundred pounds a year was " a sum which no musician ever
had before from any prince, nor ought to have^ It is but
fair to say that the itahcs are not Percival's.

Percival's interest in and connexion with Ireland must
not be allowed to pass without notice. He held large property
in Ireland, transactions in which are set down in the Diary ;
he had been in earher life a member of the Irish Parliament,
and he was now an Irish peer. Apart from private concerns,
in pubHc matters he stood stiffly for Irish privileges, and
worked energetically and constantly for Irish interests. It
is in connexion with the Wool BiU, which affected Ireland
seriously, that there is most evidence of his activity as a
lobbyist, and he was the head and front of the movement for
the defence and promotion of the rights and privileges of the
Irish peers and peeresses when the programme was being
arranged for the ceremonial to be observed at the marriage
of the Prince of Orange to the Princess Royal of England.
Many pages of the later part of this portion of the Diary are
devoted to this matter.

In conclusion it remains only to add that the Diary
is printed complete : that there are no omissions, even of

* p. 105.
t p. 12.

X p. 201.

XIX

purely personal business. The sole alteration consists in the
modernising of the spelling of the words and the extension
of those which are abbreviated.

It is designed to place the Index at the end of the last
volume of the printed Diary.

R. A. ROBERTS.

June, 1916.

?(l

DIAKY OF THE

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL.*

SUBSEQUENTLY

FIRST EARL OF EGMONT.

1730.

Thursday, 8 January 17§g. — This day I came with my family to
town, and dined at my brother Bering's. I passed the evening
at my cousin Southwell's, where there was music and a great
deal of company, Duchess of Norfolk, Lady Gaze, Lady Isabella
Scot, Earl of Cholmly, Duke of Dorset, and other company of
both sexes. The same day my cousin Mary Dering, daughter to
my uncle Robert Dering, was made dresser to Princess Royal,
and kissed her hand, which is looked on as a distinction, none in
that place having been allowed that honour before. Her allowance
is fifty pounds a year, with all things found her, and the first of
the other dressers that dies, she comes into a share of the clothes
that are left off.

I found the town of different sentiments as to the Peace, but
a pamphlet put out a few da3^s after, entitled " Remarks upon the
Articles of Peace," brought many to approve of the Peace.

Friday, 9. — I put on my public mourning for the death of the
Princess of Anspach, sister-in-law to the Queen. We dress without
buttons, but in white gloves, shamy shoes and weepers, and the
ladies in crape hoods, which is looked on as strange by a great many,
who wonder we should mourn as deep almost as for the Royal family,
she not being any way related to the Crown. I went the same day
to see my brother Percival, laid up with the gout. Bishop Clayton,
young cousin Southwell and his lady, and the two' Schutz's.
Brother Dering dined with me ; passed the evening at home.

Saturday, 10. — I went to see the Speaker and the Earl of
Grantham ; dined and passed the evening at home.

Sunday, 11. — Prayers and sermon at home. Lord Lusham
[Lewisham] came to see me. Mr. Clerk dined with me after fifteen
or sixteen years' absence and an intimate friendship, which is
cementing anew. Brother Dering also dined with me. I passed
the evening at home.

* The name is so spelt in the enrohnent of the patent of creation of
Viscount, and, previously, as Baron, Lord Percival appears to sign
invariably, " Percival."

Wt. 24408. E I

2 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 12-13
Monday, 12. — I went to see brother Percival, Capel Moore, Cousin
Ned Southwell, the Lord Wilmington and Lord Bathurst. Dined at
home with Dr. Couraye. Mr. Taylor came and talked over my
affairs in Ireland. He told me Sir Emanuel Moore had bought
the interest of my tenant in Doundeady (of which lease there are
not three years to come), in hopes of having a lease thereof at
the expiration of the present. I said to him I was not pleased
at his doing it without my knowledge, and was more displeased
when he informed me that upon the back of the old lease there
is expressed but fifty pounds as given for the purchase of the
old tenant's interest, whereas Sir Emanuel paid him one hundred
and fifty-seven pounds. This is done that I may believe the
farm is worth less than in reality it is, by seeing so small a con-
sideration given for the purchase.

I went in the evening to see my brother Parker and his wife,
and then returned home, notwithstanding I had a letter to meet
some Parliament men at the Duke of Newcastle's to hear the
King's Speech read to us, and the heads of an address of thanks
prepared for the Commons, but I look on such meetings as a
precluding the judgment, which for honour sake at least ought
to have the appearance of being determined by the debates of
the House. I heard afterwards there were about one hundred
and fifty members present.

Tuesday, 13 January. — This day the King came to the House of
Lords, and opened the Session with a very excellent speech. He
acquainted us he had, in perfect union and concert with his allies,
concluded an absolute peace with the Crown of Spain, built on the
foundation and agreeable to the intentions of former treaties, without
any alterations but such as rendered more effectual what had been
engaged to be performed in the Quadruple Alliance. He hoped,
if opposition should be given thereto, that the Parliament will
support and assist him in the execution of his stipulations. He
assured us he had the immediate interests of these kingdoms in
view, which he preferred to the hazard of all other events, by
which he hinted at the danger his Hanover dominions w^ere in
from the Emperor's resentments in case he should not comply
with this Peace. He told us care was taken of restitution to the
merchants for the Spanish unlawful seizure of their ships and
effects, a free and uninterrupted trade renewed with them, all
rights belonging to him solemnly re-established and guaranteed,
and not one concession made to the prejudice of him or his
subjects ; that he had given immediate orders for the reduction
of a great number of his land forces, and for laying up a great
part of his fleet, which will make a considerable saving in the
current expenses of this year, and doubted not but we should
grant such supplies as shall be most effectual for the public service ;
mentioned his regard for the Sinking Fund, and left it to our
consideration whether part of it might not be applied to the ease
of poor artificers and manufacturers, by which he hinted at taking
off the duty upon soap and candles, which makes part of the
Sinking Fund. He concluded with recommending a perfect
unity among ourselves, such as may entirely defeat the hopes of
our enemies, both at home and abroad, desiring the affection of
his people may be the strength of his government as their interest had
always been the rule of his actions and the object of his wishes.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 3

1729-30.

This speech being reported by the Speaker, and the title of the
Peace read, and heads of a Bill offered, according to custom, for
opening the session. Lord Fitzwilliam made a motion for an
address of thanks to his Majesty for his most gracious speech,
and after cursorily mentioning some particulars of the adminis-
tration in the late years, which he justified, he took notice of the
opposition given the King's measures by a few discontented and
factious people at home, by which he glanced at Will. Pulteney
and his party. He concluded with very long heads of address,
which tallied with the particulars of the King's Speech, and pro-
posed the Peace should be voted just, honourable and advantageous.
He did not perform so well as Mr. Andrews, who seconded him
in as studied but a more fluent speech.

Will. Pulteney opened the debate, complaining of the late
method of answering every part of the King's Speech in our
addresses of thanks, before we had considered what was fit to
promise, and whether the things done deserved thanks or not.
Said that he believed as to the Peace, in general it was as good
a one as the Ministry could get, but that if he had time given
him he would undertake to show it neither just, honourable, nor
advantageous, but on the contrary unjust, dishonourable and
disadvantageous ; that the strong assurances proposed to be
given in the heads of the address of thanks were such, and so
generally expressed, that they might subject us to expenses or
actions neither honourable nor advantageous to the nation ;
that we promised things that possibly we should not be able to
make good. The particulars of the Peace are not yet authoritatively
known, nor read to the House, and perhaps there are still
unrevealed some secret articles that may be of pernicious con-
sequence to the kingdom if complied with, which he desired the
House might be made acquainted with ; he said he could not see
the merchants had any security that their losses should be reim-
bursed. He saw commissioners were to be appointed on both
sides to adjust that matter, but he foresaw they would do nothing
for our merchants, but the kingdom would be the worse even
for that Commission, for the Commissioners on our side must have
salary, and there must be a Secretary, which with cooking up
accidental expenses of an office, paper, messengers etc., would
put us to the expense of perhaps twelve thousand pounds, which
nobody would be the better for but the favourites who were to
enjoy these new employments. That it was dishonourable to
allow these Commissioners should sit at Madrid and not bring the
discussion of that matter at London ; that he did not understand
this way of disposing of a million or two people to be slaves to a
Prince at the agreement of the contracting Powers, and that there
is a powerful confederacy formed in Italy in conjunction with the
Emperor to prevent our settlement of Don Carlos in Tuscany,
Parma and Placentia, which must occasion a war to which no
man can judge the end. That he knew no right any prince can
have over subjects but by mutual compact and stipulation with
them, which conditions if broken on the King's part is the for-
feiture of his title ; that this was ever his principle and that of a
denomination (meaning the Whigs). However, some have departed
from it, that this forcing Don Carlos on those States is therefore
unjust, and this treaty on that account unjust. That he knew

4 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 13
not who were the disaffected persons pointed at in the King's
Speech, or in the address proposed, that himself had all the honour
and zeal for his Majesty possible, but he would support as far as
he could the interest and honour of his country ; he thought the
honour and interest of the King and country were united, and
what hurt the one was equally prejudicial to the other, and
concluded with moving that after thanking his Majesty for his
indefatigable care of his people, we should give him general
assurances of supporting him in all his just and advantageous
measures for the good of his people, but not enter into jDarticular
engagements till we had duly considered both his Speech and the
Peace, and therefore moved the latter part of the heads of the
address as moved for might be laid aside, and some more general
promises put in their place.

Mr. Horace Walpole answered him, and spoke an hour. He
•justified the conditions of the Peace in every article ; took notice
of the great difficulties that had been surmounted ; of the sincerity of
France through the whole transaction ; of the great care taken
of the merchants, their demands, and their future interests : said
that there was no reason to imagine the Emperor will actually
commence a war, because he has not the least pretence for it, for
this peace differs not in any material article from the Quadruple
Alliance, except that instead of six thousands neutral troops sent
to secure the succession of Don Carlos in Italy, they now are to be
Spaniards, but these Spaniards are not to interfere with the civil
liberty of the States whose towns they are to garrison, but on the
contrary are to take an oath t6 the Princes reigning ; they are only
to secure the succession when the present possessors die, and
this can give no offence to the Emperor, who had before granted
to Don Carlos and remitted to him his claim over these States as
Fiefs of the Empire, but it was thought necessary these troops
should be natural Spaniards, because the Emperor delayed four
years the perfecting the concession he had agreed to make, and
that gave a jealousy that he intended to recede from it seeing
it came so hard from him. He said that Gibraltar is as effectually
secured to us as if the Spaniards had by a particular article
renounced it, seeing by a former treaty they had given it up, and
that all former treaties are by this Peace confirmed and ratified
anew, and the mutual guarantee runs for securing the respective
dominions. States and lands of the contracting Powers, under one
of which heads Gibraltar must by all the world be understood
to be guaranteed to us, and especially under the word "terre " or
land. That as to any secret articles not communicated to the
world, of which Mr. Pulteney expressed a jealous}^ nobodj^ could
doubt that there must be some for the securing the things agreed
on, but he averred they were such as were agreeable to the articles
published, and honourable to the nation, if otherwise he desired
he might be looked on as the vilest of men. He defied the best
civilian to call a peace unjust which only obliges the execution of
what the Emperor had in a formal manner yielded to, and which
secured to an immediate successor the right that belonged to him,
and no reasonable man could say the peace is not advantageous
which provides for restitution of all the legal demands our
merchants can make out ; which puts an end to the lingering and
consumptive way we were in, and which prevents a war with that

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. • 5

1729-30.

kingdom of all others with whom it is the interest of England

to be at peace.

This is the substance of what passed in this day's debate, which
lasted from three o'clock till eleven. The other speakers were
Mr. Daniel Pulteney, Mr. Barnard, member for the City, Shippen,
Sir WiUiam Windham, Sir Joseph Jekyl, Master of the Rolls,
Captain Vernon, Mr. Vyner, Waller and Wyndham : these were
against the address ; those who spoke for it were Pelham, Secretary
at War, Sir Robert Walpole, Mr. Danvers, and Sir Edmond Bacon.
Daniel Pulteney said that in Cromwell's time the Dutch were
obliged on a like occasion to deposit a sum of money for security
that they would make good the losses of our merchants incurred
by their depredations, and that within six weeks' time, and that
if the Commissioners could not then agree, they were to be locked
up like our English juries, without meat or drink, whereas here is
by the present treaty three years given. Barnard said the
merchants' compensation was not to be adjusted under three
years, but Don Carlos to be put into immediate possession, and
this done the Spaniards would laugh at us to talk of reparation
when their turn was served ; and Mr. Wyndham desired the
Ministry would say whether our address bound us down to assist
the King in defence of his Hanover dominions in case the Emperor
or King of Prussia should attack them ; if they would allow
the sense of the House to be that we do not intend to engage the
kingdom in any expense on that account, he would vote for the
address, otherwise he must oppose it, but no reply was made to
him, and he accordingly voted with the minority. It was indeed
very prudent not to explain on that head, because the apprehenison
of England's concerning herself in defence of Hanover in case
that Electorate should be attacked contributes much to the keeping
Prussia from hostilities. Perhaps you will judge by this relation
that the debate was not managed on either side with that skill,
eloquence, and argument as on former occasions ; it was my
judgment, and that of others, that not one of the speakers was
this day equal to himself, which I attribute to the evident reason-
ableness of supporting this address, the question whether two
and two make four admitting neither art, nor wit, either to prove
or to contend against, and 'tis equally plain that the Peace is
just, honourable and advantageous : the first as it secures to a
Prince his undeniable right, the second as it puts the interest
of no contending Power in compromise, secures to ourselves our
own possessions and provides for ample satisfaction to our
merchants ; the third that it unites such Powers as are able to
keej) the balance of Europe, and restores the most beneficial
branch of our trade to the same condition it was in, in the best
of times, and gives way for the reduction of our Fleet and Arm3\
And whereas it was said in the debate that by the wording of the
heads of the Address we seem to approve not only of the Peace,
but of the course of the Ministry's jjroceedings in the prosecution
of it. Sir Edmond Bacon replied well, that if the Peace was a
good one their services deserved our notice, but whether they
have acted well or ill, the Address did not hinder an enquiry into
their behaviour, which, if bad, why are they not impeached ?
This would be a conduct becoming a House of Commons, but
to rail continually at them as we see some members every day

6 DIARY OF THE

Jau. 13-20
to do, and thereby spirit up craftsmen and libellers to expose
both them and Majesty itself in print to the unjust censure
of the people, and not go further, was unworthy the character of
any who have the honour to sit in this House, and what he thought
the dignity of it could not suffer. The conclusion was that
two hundred and sixty-two voted for the Address, and one hundred
and twenty-nine against it.

I understand there is a design to take some further course
with respect to wool and yam run from Ireland to France. What
that course is I know not yet, nor what can be done effectually
to prevent it, unless by a free importation of wool and yam hither.
I discoursed the late and present Speakers about it, but don't
find that anything is yet resolved on, at least it is not imparted
to them. In general my Lord Wilmington told me that nothing
could effect it but giving due encouragement, and as to our yarn
he thought that has it already by being under very little or no
duty. The Speaker told me that doubtless when this matter
comes to be considered, the encouragement of the yarn will be
proportionable to that of the raw wool. I also discoursed Joshua
Gee, who has made trade his study these twenty years, and lately
printed a very good book upon it ; and he assured me England
must have our yam, because there is not enough in this kingdom
to supply the weaver.

I ought to ask your pardon for troubling you with so empty
an account of what I know of this matter, for whatever is designed
must doubtless be fully communicated to my Lord Lieutenant
and the Commissioners of the Revenue, who will have the principal
share in conducting a thing of so great concern to both kingdoms.

I am, Sir.

To Dr. CoghiU,

Commissioner of the Revenue and
Privy Counsellor.*

Wednesday, 14 January. — I went this day to the House,
when the Address was brought us and approved, and ordered
to be presented to-morrow. Only two gentlemen opposed it,
Mr. Williams and Mr. Bramston, but there was no division,
only a number gave a loud " No," that it might appear the Address
did not pass nem. con. I brought Colonel Middleton home to
dinner, and Mr. Taylor, my steward, dined also with me. I passed
the evening at home.

Thursday, 15. — This morning Richmond, a Harwich voter,
came to see me, and brought with him one Mr. Smith, who has
concerns in Harwich.

I went out and visited young cousin Southwell and Mr. Horace
Walpole, w^ho were abroad, the Duke of Grafton, w^ho was at
home, my brother Parker, who I likewise found, the Duke of
Dorset, and Sir John Evelyn, w^ho were both abroad. I then
went to the House, and attended the Address to Court. The
Earl of Grantham, Mr. Francis Clerk, and brother Dering dined
with me. I passed the evening at home.

I was given this day a libel in print against Sir Robert Walpole,
dropped in St. James' Park the fifth of this month, when the
Queen was walking there, and taken notice of by her, to whom
one of her attendants showed it.

* See p. 24 infra.

FIRST VISCOtTNT PERCIVAL. 7

1729-30

*' A Hue and Cry after a Coachman."

Lond., 5 Jan., 1729.

" Whereas a coachman, who for his unparallelled and consummate
impudence, has for many years past gone by the name of " Brazen
Face," about fifty years of age, full bodied, brown complexion,
five feet ten inches high or thereabouts, hath lost a tooth in fore
part of his upper jaw ; dirty hands, light fingered, a heavy slouching,
clumsy, waddling gait, an affected toss with his head, a supercilious, .
sneering, grinning look, of a malicious, vindictive, sanguinary^*
nature, a saucy, insulting, overbearing, imperious behaviour in
"prosperity, a poor, low, mean, \\Tetched, abject spirit in adversity,
of a perfidious, impious, atheistical principle, remarkably addicted
to lying, an ignorant, forward, positive, unexp^enced, headstrong,
blundering driver, despised, contemned and hlj^by al^his master's
faithful servants, generally wears a livery t^^Btad^with a blue,
garters below knee, formerly served a widow ^^^^|fi^^6 fii'st rank,
till he was dismissed her service for selling hl^HE^nd hay, for
which he was committed and lay several morfB^i prison, and
till her death could not get into service again (buT wandered about
in the scorn and contempt of every one that knew him), but upon
her demise procured himself to be chosen postillion, and after-
wards coachman in the service of his late mistress's successor,
who was a perfect stranger to all his scandalous, base, wicked and
corrupt practices ; has plunged, bewildered and overset his present
master, imposed on and deceived his mistress, and plundered,
robbed and stripped the whole family, which is exceeding numerous.

" If any person or persons will seize and apprehend the said
coachman, and bring him to the axe and block upon Tower Hill,
or to the gibbet and halter in Tyburn Road, so that he may
be brought to justice, and dealt with as he deserves, such person
or persons shall be nobly rewarded, and eminently distinguished by
all the family.

" N.B. — If the said coachman is not apfprehended by the
13th instant, he shall be more particularly described, with his name,
commonly called his Christian name, and his sirname at length."

Friday, 16 January. — I visited this morning Lord Forbes,
Lord Lusam [Lewisham], cousin John Finch, Sir Thomas Hanmer,
Dr. Couraye, cousin Southwell, senior, and brother Bering.
Secretary Scroop, and his nephew Mr. Fane, Sir John Evelyn and
his son, Mr. Walker, and brother Dering dined with me.

Saturday, 17. — I was seized with a feverish cold, which con-
fined me ; but brother and sister Percival, Mr. Donellan, and
Bishop Claj^ton and his lady dined with me.

Sunday, 18, Monday, 19, Tuesday, 20. — I saw no company,
by reason of my disorder, brother Parker and Mr. Schutz and
Mr. Taylor excepted.

The Queen, who is an encourager of learned men as far as
countenance goes, has caused the picture of the late Doctor Samuel
Clark, Rector of St. James's, to be set up in Kensington Palace,
with this inscription to his honour, composed by Dr. Hoadly,
Bishop of Salisbury : —

" Sanmel Clark, D.D.,

*' Rector of St. James's, Westminster.

" In some parts of useful knowledge and critical learning, perhaps

" without an equal ; in all imited, certainly without a superior.

8 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 20-23
' ' In his works, the best defender of Religion ; in his practice, the
' greatest ornament of it. In his conversation, communicative
"and in an uncommon manner instructive. In his Preaching
"and writing, strong, clear, and calm. In his life, high in the
"esteem of the great, the good, and the wise. In his death,

lamented by every friend to truth, to virtue, and liberty.
" He died May the 7th, 1729, in the 54th year of his age."

He was doubtless a very great man, and besides his learning,
no man had a more metaphysical head, nor clearer way of expressing
himself. I believe, too, that he was a lover and searcher after
truth, but whether he found it in his notions of our Saviour's
divinity, which he published in his book called the Scripture
doctrine of the Trinity, and several anonymous pamphlets, is a
thing disputed, and almost universally denied by our clergy,
who in Queen Anne's time attacked him in Convocation, and
engaged him to sign a promise that he would for the future be
silent on that head. It was the great interest of Bishop Smaldridge
among his brethren which at that time saved him from some
formidable censure, on condition of the promise above mentioned,
which the Bishop afterwards complained to me was not performed
by him. Bishop Goodwin, of Ireland, told me no man was more
of Dr., Clarke's notion in these matters than Smaldridge, but that
being one of the heads of the High Church party, he would never
discover his opinion. The famous Dr. Whitby, likewise, at his death
left a large pamphlet, wherein he declared himself to be of the
same mind with the seminarians, and recants the excellent writings
he had published before in favour of the established and orthodox,
belief Dr. Clark, on the death of Sir Isaac Newton, applied
for the post of Warden of the Mint, and obtained the nomination
to it, which hurt his character, and was certainly a very unbecoming
office for a clergyman, especially of one whose character was so
established, and who had already one thousand pounds coming
in, but he presently saw his error, and resigned his pursuit. When
I heard the Doctor had asked that employment, I called to mind
a passage of old Bishop Latimer in his sermon preached at
St. Paul's Church, 18th January', 1548, where, complaining of the
prelates of his time, that some were occupied in king's matters,
some ambassadors, some of the Privy Council, some to furnish
the Court, some lords of parliament, some Presidents and some
Comptrollers of Mints, " Well, well (says he), is this their duty ?
Is this their office ? Is this their calling ? Should ^^'e have
ministers of the Church to be Comptrollers of the Mints ? Is this
a meet office for a priest that hath cure of souls ? Is this his
charge ? I would fain know who comptrolleth the devil at home
in his parish while he comptrolleth the Mint. If the Apostles
might not leave the office of preaching to the deacons, shall one
leave it for minting ? I cannot tell you, but the saying is that
since priests have been minters, money hath been worse than it
was before."

This being the Prince's birthday, it was kept with great
respect, on the town's side, who appeared at Court in crowds
as great as has been seen on the King or Queen's days ; but it was
remarked that neither the King or Queen were out of mourning.
The order was no body should appear in new clothes. There was
a ball at night, and my daughter danced.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 9

1729-30.

Wednesday, 21 January. — Stayed at home on account of my cold.
Mr. St. Lenger and Mr. Taylor came. We talked over the dispute
between Mr. St. Lenger and me concerning Crone and Croft's dispute
of Aires, my passing fine and recovery, and my title to Liscarrol
Manor. Things passed gentlemanlike among us in conversation.
Dr. Couraye dined \^ith me in the evening. Old Frazer came
to see me, and told me that it was he who procured Woolston
(who stands condemned for writing against our Saviour's miracles)
not to have sentence pass so speedily as otherwise it would have
done upon him, because Woolston had given him hopes that he
would in court recant his writings, which, when it came to the
point, he would not, for which said Frazer, I have done with him
for a vile fellow.

Thursday, 22. — To-day Lord Wilmington and brother Percival
came to see me. I asked him if it be true that the Prince's patent
and investiture of the Principality of Wales must pass the
Parliament ? He said he saw no occasion for it. Whether his
servants who are members must be re-elected ? He said he thought
not, for though they are paid by the King, yet they are not the
King's servants, but the Prince's. Whether since the judicature
is taken from the Lords of Ireland by Act of Parliament passed
in England, the House of Lords of Ireland have a right to receive
impeachments there, or to try one of their members who should
kill a man in that kingdom ? He said he thought they had.

I stayed all day at home on account of my cold.

Friday, 23. — Mr. Taylor, Lord Bathurst, Cousin le Grand came
to see me. The two Mr. Schutz's and their ladies dined with me,
Letter came from Harwich that old Mr. Godfrey, one of our electors,
died Tuesday last. He had a second or third gunner's place,
worth twenty pounds, which I desired cousin Southwell to write
to the Duke of Argyle, being Master of the Ordnance, to confer
on Francis Pulham, one of my electors. This day the House of
Commons had a division whether the consideration of Greenwich
Hospital should be now referred to a separate Committee, which
the Court would have be considered in a Committee of the whole
House as usual, and carried the question accordingly, two hundred
and thirty-nine, against one hundred and twenty. Mr. Sands
made the motion, and Shippen, with Will. Pulteney supported
it. Sir Robert Walpole opposed it. Shippen saying it was good
to rub ministers, for it made them the brighter. Sir Robert
answered, if so, he must be the brightest Minister that ever was.
Pulteney replied he knew nothing was the brighter for rubbing
but pewter and brass, alluding to Sir Robert's nickname of
''Brazen Face," — ribaldry unfit for ' the House. Sir Robert
made a speech an hour long in his justification from the immense
riches it was pretended he had got, but said envy made it greater
than it was, and that he had not got it by dirty ways, concluding
that he wondered he was not accused in a Parliamentary way if
guilty of the things laid to his charge ; to which Pulteney replied,
everybody knew the reason, meaning the number of members
under the Government's influence.

I learned to-day that the Prince was affronted at the masquerade
last Tuesday night ; a gentleman made up to him and called him
abusive names, upon which the Prince collared him and gave
him a box on the ear ; the other stole away, and is not known.

10 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 24-28
These masquerades are the corruption of our youth and a scandal
to the nation, and it were to be wished the King would not
encourage them. The Bishops have addressed in a body against
them, and exposed them in their sermons, but all to no purpose.

Saturday, 24 January. — Bishop of Killalla, Mr. John Temple,
and Mr. Gierke came to see me. Stayed at home the whole day.
Dr. Couraye dined with me.

Sunday, 25. — Stayed at home the whole day, except in the
evening I went for an hour to my sister Bering's. Sir Thomas
Hanmer came to see me.

Monday, 26. — This morning Mr. Capel Moore came to see me,
and made me smile at a story touching my Lord Lovel (Mr. Cook
of Norfolk that was made a Baron when this King came to the
Crown). My Lord, coming up to town against the meeting of
Parliament, told the Earl of Chesterfield that now he was come
he did not know how to vote. " Why, with the Court, to be sure,'
replied the Earl. " Aye, but," said Lovel, " the Court is so divided
that I don't know which way it leans. There are," said he, " in
it a country party, a Spanish party, and a French party." "If
you are under a difficulty," replied the Earl, "go to Sir Robert
Walpole ; he will direct you." Says Lovel, " If I vote with the
Court, I expect to be paid for it." " How paid ?" said Chesterfield.
" Why," the other replied, " I have an estate sufficient for an
Earl or a Viscount at least, and I shall expect to be made one of
them." " That," replied Chesterfield, "is impossible ; it is asking
a thing the King cannot do." Lovel replied, " He did not under-
stand him, that the King had made him a Baron two year ago,
and might make him a Viscount if he pleased, for he was the
fountain of honour and nothing tied up his hands. To say therefore
that it was impossible implied something he did not comprehend,
and he must insist to know his lordship's meaning." " Why, if you
will have it," replied the Earl, " it is a maxim of our law that the
King can do no wrong." Which said, he left my Lord Lovel
to digest it as well as he could.

It is inconceivable how much the town resents the King's
usage of the Prince with respect to money matters ; the enemies
of the Government are loud against it, because they are glad
of any handle to make a noise, and the friends are deeply concerned
for the reflection it draws on the King, and the injury it does to
the Prince, both in health, credit and temper, for his necessity
may turn him from being the most generous and best inclined
man in the world to be of a sordid temper, and to abandon himself
to pleasure to stifle his concern. The fault is laid at Sir Robert
Walpole's door, who is said to encourage the King in his parsi-
monious temper, by which he preserves his Majesty's favour,
and gains the disposal of all jflaces, which he only bestows on his
creatures.

I learned that this day there was a debate in the Commons
House till four o'clock on a motion of Lord Morpeth's, that his
Majesty should be addressed to lay before the House all the papers
relating to the negotiations of his Majesty in whatever parts of
Europe, or to that effect. The Court party put the previous
question, whether my lord's motion should be put or no, and
carried it as they would have it, two hundred against one hundred
and seven.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL- 11

1729-30.

Tuesday, 27 January. — The Lords this day took into considera-
tion the Treaty of Seville, and my Lord Bat hurst moved that
the fifth article of the Quadruple Alliance might be read, which
being done, he proposed the following question to this effect,
that the agreement in the Treaty of Seville to secure the succession
of Don Carlos to the Duchy of Tuscany, Parma, and Placentia,
with Spanish troops, is a manifest violation of the fifth article of
the Quadruple Alliance, tends to involve this nation in a dangerous
and expensive war, and to destroy the balance of power in Europe ;
he was answered by my Lord Townsend, after which several
lords, but my Lord Bingley best of all, who, to the surprise of
the Tories, now first abandoned them, and argued in favour of
the Peace. The Court carried it, eighty-six against thirty-one.

My Lord Buckley came to see me and ask my favour to be
present in the House when Mr. Bod vile 's petition against
Mr. Williams Winne is to be debated.

The reports against the Queen that spread about the town
are scandalous, and it makes one melancholy to see the industry
of the disaffected to poison the minds of the lower rank of people.
The servants everywhere have it that the Queen intends to cause
a Bill to be brought in to reduce servants' wages to thirty shillings,
and that women servants shall wear a sort of shoulder knot of the
colour of the footmen's livery belonging to such family. Also the
shop keepers are told that the Queen will have the citizens' wives
to wear a rose or a badge to distinguish them from the gentry and
nobility.

Wednesday, 28. — To-day Dr. Bedford, minister of Hoxton,
came to see me, to complain of the scandal the playhouses give,
by the blasphemous and obscene plays they act, also of the
scandalous practice of the Ordinaries of Newgate and other prisons
in obliging the prisoners to auricular confession, or declaring
them damned if they refuse, which is only to extort from them
an account of their lives, that they may afterwards publish the
same to fill their printed papers and get a penny.

This day the House of Commons had in consideration the
maintaining for this year seventeen thousand land troops.
Mr. Pelham, Secretary at War, made the motion, and among
other reasons for keeping that number, said it was his observation
of a long time that whenever there was a small number of men
rebellions were hatched. Mr. Pulteney answered that he hoped
the King had not lost in the affections of his people, and Shippen
said that at this rate he saw no prospect of being free from a
government by a standing army ; that he hoped the German
constitution of ruling by an army was not to be introduced here,
and that in England a King who should propose to govern by an
army was a tyrant. This bold and audacious speech struck the
House mute, till Sir William Young got up and said such things
were not proper to be heard, and were intolerable, that the House
ought to make him explain himself, not but that he believed the
House understood his meaning. Shippen said something to
extenuate his expression, but not to much satisfaction. Sir Robert
Walpole said what was proper, and concluded that it was believed
there would have been a long debate, but what Shippen had said
had so shocked gentlemen that he could find nothing wiser than go
to the question immediately. On the division, there were

12 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 28-29
two hundred and forty-six for keeping seventeen thousand men
and one hundred and twenty-one against it. When this was
over, Sir Joseph Jekyl spoke in a manner to renew the debate
which was over, upon which Sir Robert said it was entirely
irregular, and that however he could excuse gentlemen's differing
on other occasions, yet he wondered after such a speech as Shippen
had made, how there could be a man that would vote where
Shippen did. Sir William Wyndham answered that what
'Mr. Shippen meant was best known to himself, and he would not
suppose he had an unjustifiable meaning, but he was sorry to
see that gentlemen were to be reflected on for acting in the House
as their opinions and judgments lead them, that for his own part
he was so shocked with Mr. Pelham's declarations of the necessity
of a standing army, that that made him divide against the question,
and he had intended to speak to several matters which those
expressions prevented him from pursuing. Oglethorp on this
occasion voted for the Court, though a very obstinate Tory, and
gave for reason that he believed we should go into a war with the
Emperor, and therefore thought it necessary to have an army,
and he had rather see an army of Englishmen than foreigners
among us. This account my son brought me home, who added
that the Speaker (for this was a Committee) spoke exceeding
well, finding fault with Mr. Pelham's expression and reason for
keeping a standing army, but excusing him as being assured it
was but a slip that fell from him, who was known, as were his
ancestors, to have been ever strenuous defenders of the liberties
of the country. He said he would sacrifice his life before he would
concur in keeping up a formidable army by way of rule and maxim
as necessary to our government, but thought, considering how
affairs stand at present in Europe, that the question proposed
ought to pass.

Thursday, 29 January. — This morning was the first I ventured
to go abroad on. I visited Mr. Horace Walpole, Lord Grantham,
Sir Edmond Bacon, Mr. Southwell and Mr. Oglethorp. I then,
went to the House, where my Lord Morpeth made a long motion,
which may be seen in the votes ; the purpose was to address the
King to reduce the army more than he has done as soon as his
Majesty sees it's fitting and safe. He introduced his motion by
taking notice of what passed yesterday in the House, namely, that
Pelham, Secretary at War, had dropped an expression as if a
standing army would be always necessary, and though he explained
his meaning to be otherwise, to the satisfaction of the House,
yet there were many strangers in the gallery, who might go away
with a notion that the House was in opinion for a standing army,
and therefore he proposed his motion, that the country might see
what was the sense of Parliament on that head. Mr. Pelham
got up and complained of the irregularity and unkindness of that
motion, to say no worse of it ; that as long as he had sat in
Parliament he had never observed that matters passed a foregoing
day were overhauled and debated the following, that he had
explained himself sufficiently^ the day before, and thought it very
hard a mistake or slip of his, which he had corrected, should be
made a ground to address the King.

Mr. Sands, Daniel Pulteney, and Sir William Wyndham sup-
ported the motion, Sir Robert Walpole, General Ross, Sir Edmond

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCTVAL. 13

1729-30.

Bacon, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Oglethorp and the Solicitor General
opposed it. Sir Robert said the motion must be meant particularly
against Pelham, or against the King, the former was very
unparliamentary in taking notice of debates already over, and of
a slip which a gentleman immediately corrected himself in ; the
latter was a very unworthy treatment of the King, who had already
made a great reducement of the army, and should he make a
greater by this motion if an address followed, he would lose the
merit of such reduction, and it would appear to the world as if the
Parliament suspected his intentions, and had forced him to it.
That if the Parliament thought proper to recall debates that
were past, he would make a motion upon a member's speech, which
was the most affronting and most insolent that ever came out of
a member's mouth : he meant what Shippen had said the day
before. Sir William Wyndham said he did not see the connection
between yesterday's resolution and this motion : we then voted
seventeen thousand men. It is now moved that the King should
be desired to disband them only when his affairs permitted ; that
this was not unbecoming a British Parliament, but advising the
King to do what would engage to him the hearts of his subjects ;
that 'tis true these troops are given but from year to year, but
so was the land tax, which is now become hereditary ; he ended
with excusing my Lord Morpeth from having any design to reflect
on Mr. Pelham.

Mr. Oglethorp said the same reason that moved him to vote
yesterda}^ with the majority for seventeen thousand men, obliged
him to be against this motion, for he was against any further
reduction of troops while things stand as they do in Europe. The
Solicitor General showed that my Lord Morpeth opened his motion
by taking notice of Mr. Pelham's slip, and grounded it on nothing
else ; that Mr. Pelham had explained himself to the satisfaction of
the House, which ought to satisfy them, otherwise the liberty of
speech was gone ; that the motion could have no possible good
attending it, but on the contrary contained an absurdity, to say
no worse of it. For when we gave yesterday the seventeen thousand
men, we gave it to the King, as trusting in his frugal care for the
public, and that with good reason, his Majesty having shown that
before the Parliament he had already begun to reduce five thousand
men, but by this motion we should seem to recall what we had
done, to repent we gave so many men this year, and to put his
Majesty in mind that he must (fisband more. He was confident
he would do it as soon as affairs permitted, of which he was the
judge ; but by this step, the Parliament would have all the honour
of a new reduction, the King none, which was not the method
to gain the love of his subjects to him. Lord Morpeth was desired
to withdraw his motion, but did not offer to do it, so the question
was put and flung out mthout a division. My Lord Morpeth,
however, had all he aimed at, which was to have it appear in the
votes as if the Ministry, who are known to have the majority
of the House with them, were for no further reduction of troops
though ever so reasonable, but for governing by a standing army.

Dr. Couraye and Coz. Moll Bering dined with me. I stayed
the evening at home. I am informed the pamphlet which came
out yesterday, entitled " The Treaty of Seville," considered is writ
by my Lord Bolingbrooke.

14 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 30-31
Friday, 30 January. — This morning my brother Parker came
to see me, and expressed his fear from some letters he received
last post from Harwich, that the Mayor, Alderman Newell, would
be treacherous, not^\ithstanding all his promises, and watch an
opportunity to call a hall in order for choosing Fuller, the master
of a packet (set up by the Post Office interest), at the time when
our friends should be absent, and soon after he was gone, James
Clements ^\Tit me that suddenly on Tuesday last the Mayor had
at eleven o'clock warned the twenty-four to meet at three that
evening to choose a member to fill up their company. That we
had then in town but nine who call themselves our friends, three
of whom would not declare their minds, so that but six could be
depended upon, and that Philipson's party for Fuller were like^v'ise
six ; whereupon our six friends thought fit to send for Captain
Fuller, who giving them promises and satisfaction such as was
expected, that if they would choose him he would join Avith them
without any regard to his old friends upon all occasions, they
agreed to be for him, and so he was chose without any opposition.
Fools to believe a captain of a packet will forsake the Post Office,
his master's interest, or the friends he always was engaged to.
I went afterwards to Court, where the Earl of Grantham telling
me that the King and Queen had both very lately expressed a
ver}^ good and kind opinion of me, I replied they did me too much
honour in words, but were doing me all the injury thej^ could ;
he asked me with surprise what I meant ; I told him that nobody
had harder treatment than my brother Parker and I, who though
zealous friends to the King, were undermined in our borough
by the Government's own officer, who professedly opposed my
brother's friends there, and if they did not leave our interest to
vote for such as he set up agamst our friends, he starved them,
by not suffering the poor people to work for the packets, or to
supply them with beer, or bread. That we are ever}^ day at a
new election fighting up hill, and if we were the most disaffected
in the world could not be worse used ; that my brother Parker's
patience was quite worn out, and that I could not see how in
honour he or I mider such usage could continue our zeal. It
struck my Lord, and he suddenl}^ left me, but returning ten minutes'
after, said he had been doing me service, which I should know
by and by, desiring I would stay. I did design it. Soon after he
returned and told me he had spoke to the Duke of Newcastle and
to Horace Walpole, who both said they knew Philipson to be a
Jacobite, and Horace added that he wondered the fellow was not
out before. I replied he might wonder, and so did everybody
else, that a man put in b}^ my Lord Bolingbrook, and against
whom my brother Parker had given into Mr. Walpole's hands a
year ago informations upon oath of Jacobite expressions and actions
should be so long kept in. My Lord said we should have satis-
faction in it very soon, but begged me to be assured that it was
not Sir Robert Walpole's fault he was not turned out before,
but lay at another door. I told him I did not care at whose door
it laj^ w^hether the Post Office or Lord Townsend, but was obliged
to his Lordship for taking the thing so right as he had done. That
the Post Office was indeed our enemy, because they had a mind
a friend of their own should be chosen in my place, and had
declared they w^ould never forgive my brother for putting me upon

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 15

1729-30.

standing. Soon after the King came out, and after a few words
spoken to the Duke of St. Albans, he passed by all the great lords
that should have been spoke to first, and crossed the room to the
far side, where I stood, and asked me some questions about
Charlton, and my not being well since I came to town. This not
being his course at any time, and the first time he had spoken
to me this twelvemonth, I perceived my Lord Grantham had
done more than he told me, and spoken of this affair to the King
himself ; and I was the more confirmed in it, that as soon as his
Majesty left speaking to me, he passed by all the Court on either
side of me, to walk up to the Duke of Newcastle, who stood at
the end of the chamber, and whispered him, to which the Duke
made low bows, as if he had taken some direction that he was
ordered to follow, and I suppose the King then told him that he
would have Pliilipson displaced. The Queen also, who had not
spoken to me these nine months, came up and asked after my
wife ; so I find the ill impression that must have been made of
me to the Court by Mr. Carteret's means, were by my
Lord Grantham's means dispjelled by his acquainting their
Majesties of the unjust usage we have received.

By a letter my brother Parker received this day from Pulham,
I find there were sixteen of the twenty-four in town when the
Mayor summoned the Court to the election, and that they were
eight against eight, and that Thomas Peck and William Richmond,
our pretended friends, were resolved to go for Philipson's man,
Captam Fuller, wherefore our real friends, not having time to
consider of a proper person to set up, and not being able to carry
it if thev had, made a virtue of necessity, and closed in with
Fuller.

In the evenmg, I went to my sister Percival to hear Signor Fabri,
who sings the tenor in our Opera, perform, and I engaged him to
teach my daughter at three guineas for ten times.

Saturday, 31 January. — I went to see brother Parker, and
acquainted him with what passed yesterday, and we agieed to
go together to Court this morning ; from thence I went to see
Mr. Lumly, Major Xaison, my tenant in Denmark Street,
Mr. Bagnell, Mr. Duncomb, Lord Buckley, Lord Palmerston,
Lord Bathurst, Mr. St. Lenger, and Mr. John Temple. From
thence I went to Court, where the King again spoke to me, a great
novelty. My Lord Grantham spoke agam to me touching my
borough : and said the Duke of Newcastle and Horace Walpole
both said Philipson should be turned out, and that he would speak
to Sir Robert Walpole. I replied, I did not perceive much good
in his speaking, for Sir Robert had often said he should be out
before, but nothing came of it ; that I would trouble myself no
more about the matter, but should not forget the hardness of the
usage. He told me he believed it was my Lord Carteret sustained
him. I said it was more than I knew, but sustained he was to the
tiring out my patience ; that my brother Parker had still greater
reason to be offended, for no man in England had deserved better
of this Government, and no man was treated worse. That his
merit even exceeded that of any other man's. That m Queen Aime's
time, while yet a young man, and not come to his fortune, he
stood for the county of Suffolk against two Tories, Sir Thomas
Hanmer and Sir Robert Da vers, and though he lost it, yet showed

16 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 31-Feb. 2
so great interest in his county that he polled two thousand single
votes. That when the first plot against the late King broke out,
he presented an association in the defence of the Hanover suc-
cession, signed by the well affected of his county, which their
representatives in Parliament, nor even their Lord Lieutenant of
the county, my Lord Comwallis, through fear of the times, durst
not do ; that he presented also an association from the town of
Harmch, even while my Lord Bolingbrook was recorder there ;
that afterwards he got that Lord turned out, and my Lord Orford
chosen recorder in his room ; that ever since he was in Parliament
he stuck to his principle, and never opposed the Court in anything
except in the Peerage Bill, which he voted against for this King's
sake, against whom it was levelled, the Act for repealing my
Lord Bollingbrook's attainder, which he believes the Court now
thinks he was right in doing, and in the late Bill to prevent bribery
and corruption, which as a lover of his country he was obliged to
do ; that his zeal in all was so remarkable that he has been accused
of being a pensioner, for people could not imagine how otherwise
a gentleman could be so zealous and steady for a Government
under whom he never enjoyed nor sought for a place. That all
the reward for his zeal and incredible expense for the service of
his country, and the Hanover succession, and in modelling Harwich,
a Jacobite town, to become honest and loyal, has been a constant
endeavour of the Government to undermine his natural interest
in his own borough, by keeping in a professed Jacobite to nose
and encounter him there, and encouraging him to corrupt
Sir Philip's friends, or starve them by denying them the ser\dng
the packets with bread, beer, candles, or working for their ships.
He asked me again why I did not complain to the King. I answered,
the King would have enough to do if he was to be troubled with
things of this nature, and I chose to let the matter work itself,
being sure the King would sooner or later be sensible of the wrong
done us. In the mean time I was sensibly touched to know that
both my brother and I had been misrepresented to his Majesty.
My Lord left me upon it, and when the King and Queen came
out to the circle, the King, as I have said, spoke to me. I saw
him, before he approached, speak earnestly to Mr. Walpole, and
then look at me, from whence I conclude he reiterated his pleasure
that Philipson should be out.

My wife went also to Court, and both King and Queen spoke
to her. Mr. Taylor dined with me, and afterwards I went to
the Opera.

I was told to-day that the King, jesting with the Duke his son,
and asking him which he had rather be, a king or a queen, he
replied : " Sir, I never yet tried ; let me be one of them a month,
and I'll tell you." And yesterday the Queen, chiding him for
asking eagerly for his dinner, it being the thirtieth of January,
on which he ought to fast, it being the anniversary day of cutting
off King Charles's head, she asked him whether he thought it
was right in the people to have done it, to which he replied he
could not tell what was his crime till he read his history. These
are very early marks of quickness and parts in a child not nine
years old.

Sunday, 1 February. — To-day I had prayers and sermon
at home, then went to Court. Dr. Couraye dined with me,

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL 17

1729-30.

and in the evening I went to see my brother Dering, who is
ill again.

Monday, 2. — To-day I returned the visits of ^Ir. Botmar and
the Duke of Dorset, and called on Mr. Oglethorpe and Sir John
Evelyn, found none but Mr. Botmar. Went to the House, where
I foim.d my brother Parker, who told me he had a long conference
in the House \vith Horace Walpole, who asked him whether he was
still uneasy in his borough. Sir Philip answered " Yes," and
supposed he was always to be so. " Why so," said Walpole,
" I thought Philipson had been out long ago ? " " No," said
Sir Philip, " and I suppose is not to be." " What would content
you 1 " said t'other, "will his being out do it?" "Nay," said
Sir Philip, " I am like one reduced to despair, and they who despair
hope nothing nor expect. I design to trouble myself no more
about it, but sit down with the loss of two or three thousand
pounds in supportmg the Whig interest from a cliild, and never
having any regard shown to my honesty and services." " Your
services are known," said Walpole, "to everybody." "Yes,"
said Sir Philip, " so well that everybody says I have a pension ;
but they talk of a Bill to be brought in against placemen and
pensioners sitting in the House, and I shall show I am no pensioner
by voting for the Bill as far as relates to them ; though as to the
other part concerning placemen, I shall be for allowing them."
" But why should you regard," said Walpole, " what the world
says ? Don't you see pamphlets come out every day asserting
things against persons that are five in six of them false ?" " Yes,"
said Sir Philip, " but they are not so universally believed."
Walpole : "I can assure you Sir Robert Walpole wishes that
Philipson out as much as you, and he will be out." "So he ought
long ago," said Sir Philip, " for the honour of Suffolk and Norfolk,
and it is the Ministry's business to look to that. I am astonished
it was not done when I complained last year, and as to my personal
usage I have been opposed in my borough ever since I stood there
by that servant of the Ministry who ruins my friends as much
as he can by starving them, not suffering them to bake, brew,
or work for the packets, or else winning them from me by these
ways and by tlu-eats. A man who you know is a Jacobite, and
whom all the Ministry acknowledged to be so, and yet they keep
him in to nose me." Mr. Walpole was much distasted every
time Sir Philip brought the Ministry in, and said it was not the
Ministry's business, that Sir Robert Walpole knew nothing of the
matter, but I desire to laiow what will content you ? My brother,
who was aware that he had a mind to make the turning the fellow
out a personal friendship to Sir Phihp, and to pin him down to
acknowledge it as so great a work that he ought to remam satisfied
Avith it, and not ask any further favours, told him that he had
a great many things to require ; being contented in this of his
borough was one out of zeal for the Government, as well as in
justice to the usage he had received, and that another was the
doing something for his brother Dering, for whom he had long
solicited a very small augmentation to the place he had already
in the wine license office, but could never obtain it, though
Sir Robert had promised it over and over again. " I speak tMs
to you, Mr. Walpole," said he, " as one I think my friend and
an honest gentleman." " And so is my brother Walpole," said

Wt. 24408. ^ 2

18 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 2

he. "I hope and believe so too," said Sir Philip, " but still he has
done nothing for my brother." " Why, what would you have
for him ? " said Walpole. " Nay," said my brother, " you know
what would content him, and was formerly so kind to enter into
his concerns, believing him an honest, and sensible, and deserving
man." " Yes," said Walpole, "so he is, and I wish him very
well." They parted at last, and Walpole said he should be con-
tented. What will come of this fine conference, is to be expected,
but we both concluded Phihpson will be out, and that the Ministry
are like to be hard set this session. Sir Philip observed that
Walpole, however, did not part very well pleased with him.

After dinner my brother Parker came to tell me that as he left
the House, Sir Robert Walpole took hold of him and said my
Lord Grantham had spoke to him about his uneasiness with relation
to his borough, and desired to know what would content him,
whether turning Philipson out would do it. My brother replied
gravely, that he knew a great while ago that he was uneasy, and
that turning Philipson out would content him if his successor
were a friend. " Well," said Sir Robert, smiling, " if I have any
interest he shall be out." My brother smiled in return, and left
him.

At night Horace Walpole came to see me, and soon fell on the
point of my brother Parker's dissatisfaction, that Mr. Bering
had nothing done for him. " Now," said he, " I am sure it is
not Sir Robert Walpole 's fault, he is no enemy of his, but I have
always heard him speak handsomely of him ; but people mistake
if they think Ministries can do all they are desired. The Court
itself will often dispose of their own places, and I don't know
what he would have." I replied, since he was pleased to mention
my brother's dissatisfaction, I would speak to him on that head,
and that I might do it freely, too, having always entertained a great
value and respect for him, and flattered myself that he was very
much my friend ; my brother, I replied, does think he has reason
to resent and so do I too ; I think we both have been extremely
ill-used, and Shippen could not have been worse. Mr. Walpole
stopped me short, and, with a great discontent, said this is very
hard, this is indeed very hard, and was going on. " Sir," said I, " I
possibly may have spoken too harshly, but my meaning is no more
than to express my own vexation in terms that may touch you."
*' Vexation," said Mr. Walpole, " who is it vexes you ? I am
sure Sir Robert Walpole is as true to his country's good, and has
as clean hands, and has got his money as honestly as any man
whatever." " Sir," said I , " I deny it not. I have a verj^ great
respect for Sir Robert. I believe him the ablest minister in the
kingdom. I believe that he endeavours the good of his country ;
I believe the riches he has got are fairly got, and he is the best
friend in the world where he takes ; but the thing which has got
him so many enemies are the personal disobligations he has done
to private persons." " Enemies !" said Walpole, " I know of
none he has made." I smiled at that and said, " Why, I am dis-
obliged, and you see my brother Parker is so, and why ? Because
Sir Robert had not kept his word with us." " Word ! " said
Walpole, " he never promised Mr. Dering, that I know of." " Sir,"
said I, "he promised both my brother Parker and me, and
surely there never was a more modest request. It was only to

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 19

1729-30.

give our own brother, a man of acknowledged merit, some small
addition to his present place, after a long service, and a faithful
and zealous one, in an employment, which by his particular
care was recovered from disorder, and much improved in the value
arising from that office to the Exchequer ; that my brother is as old
a servant as any whatever to this family, for he was put into the
wine license by the late King's o^vn hand, at his first arrival in
England, and had great reason to expect some advancement in
so long a time, especially when two members of Parliament so
zealous for the Government as my brother and I, put all our
merits and the regard the Court should be pleased to show them,
upon some small advance to this man, whose own services, merit,
and capacity, entitled him to expect it even though he had not
been our brother. That everybody knew Sir Robert Walpole
does everything, and can do everything, by daily advancing persons
to better things than we ask, who have neither family, fortune,
nor merit to recommend them, at least not merit apparent to the
world. That for our parts we are not unreasonable. We know
some things Ministers cannot do, others they ought not to do ;
but we know other things they will not do, though they can, and
our request was of this latter sort. It is said, what would
Mr. Dering have ? I answered, when I spoke for him last year
to yourself and Sir Robert, the same question was asked me ;
and then imagining we were ourselves to look out, we pitched on
several things ; but what was the answer, this cannot be done,
this is a place for a lord, or this is promised already, or this cannot
possibly be done, without giving us a reason why. We therefore
concluded it to no purpose to name, but thought it more respectful
to leave it to the Ministry to consider his case, and find out some-
thing themselves. The year is run out, and we are as far to seek
as ever, while in the meantime our brother eats his capital. This
Sir," said I, " Sir Philip and I take for ill usage, and I must say
we have both reason to insist that the Ministry, or if you please,
Sir Robert, use us ill."

" Now to come to their usage of us with respect to Harwich.
Give me leave to tell you all our story from the beginning." He
seemed unwilling to hear me on that chapter, and, interrupting
me, said he was of opinion Philipson should be out, and that
Sir Robert is so too, though it is something extraordinary to
dismiss an officer that has served so long. I replied I thought
it more extraordinary he should have been allowed to serve so
long, the character of the man being so long and so notoriously
known to himself, to Sir Robert, and to Lord Townsend ; he
said it was true, but since the Ministry had continued him so
long, past things were forgot, and if he be out, we must look
upon it as purely to oblige Sir Philip and me. I replied that as
far as his being out would ease us of pain in our borough, we would
own an obligation done us, but I could not admit that our
application was all the reason for removing him, for the Ministry
ought in justice to the King and to themselves have turned him
out long ago. He said the Ministry could not do it, that the
Post Office would not suffer it, and when Parliament begun things
were in such a situation that it could not be, that Mr. Carteret
would not suffer it, and there was no reason to turn out Mr. Carteret
in order to turn out Philipson. " Well, Sir," said I, " you must

20 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 2
hear the whole process of my usage, and then you will judge whether
the Ministry have used me well ; I leave to speak of my brother
Parker's particular merits and particular ill-usage in a borough
where he has a natural interest, but shall speak only of my
own.

" When the ParHament was to be summoned, I waited on the
King, and told him that though loving my ease, I never yet
would be in Parliament, yet having observed in all reigns that
the first that was summoned was always most troublesome to the
Prince, I was resolved to stand, that I might contribute my poor
services to the settlement of his affairs. The King took it extremely
kind and thanked me ; asked me where it Avas ? I replied at
Harwich, where my brother had a natural interest, and would
give me his to join my own ; that his Majesty had servants there
that had votes, and if his Majesty would not suffer them to be
against me, I should meet with no opposition, and be at no expense.
The King replied, they should be at my service, and said he would
speak to Sir Robert Walpole to order Carteret that the Post Office
should be for me. Upon this security I went down, but how was
the King's orders obeyed ? I was kept there two months and a
half under a constant declaration that the Government servants
were to be against me, and Philipson, the Commissary of the
Packets, averred that I had not the Government's interest, and
even named another person who was to come and oppose me on
the Government's account, which was Admiral Cavendish,
Carteret's son-in-law. At the same time that this was given out
against me, Mr. Heath Avas sent for down by the Commissary
Philipson to oppose my brother Parker, and Heath declared
Sir Robert Walpole sent him down. This astonished our voters,
and made them shy of promising us, and gave occasion to vast
expense in treating etc., for the people were glad of this misunder-
standing, because it made us spend our money. That I was kept
two months at this rate, drinking and eating, in a manner not
natural to me, which ended in a sickness I never yet wore off,
and in a fever my brother Parker and my wife got there, wherein
the lives of both were despaired of. I thought this monstrous
usage. I knew the King's intentions, but found no effect from
them. Who was it stood in my way ? It was the Ministry. I
wrote to Sir Robert a strong but studied letter upon it, yet nothing
was done to ease me, and it was not till the very day before the
election, that when I could be worried no longer, the Post Office
thought fit to give their directions to Philipson, and then the
Government's servants declared themselves. But after I was
chosen, it might be thought my troubles were at an end ; not
at all ; ever since, our friends are treated in the hardest manner
imaginable. The town is poor, and the people subsist by serving
the packets with beer, bread, candles, and working for the packet
boats. In these matters none of our friends are suffered to do
anything till they forsake us to range themselves on Philipson 's
side ; then they may be employed, but othermse are let to starve.
What is this but ruining my brother's interest and mine there,
and who can we attribute this to but the Ministry ? Carteret
indeed, is the first occasion, because he told me himself he never
would forgive my brother's inviting me to stand there ; but
Carteret could do nothing if the Ministry did not suffer it. Now,"

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 21

1729-30.

said I, " I leave you to judge whether I have not reason to say that
my brother Parker and I are ill used." Mr. Walpole replied he
was sorry I had met mth such trouble ; he was sure his brother
had no design to give me any ; that, indeed, I was not known to him,
but that himself had acquainted him with my character, and that
nobody was more attached to the Government than I was. I
desired I might interrupt him there to express to him my acknow-
ledgment for doing me that justice, and to tell him that I was
sensible of a constant friendship from himself. He went on and
said that in all my story, he did not see that I had any reason
to accuse the Ministry of using me ill, but that it was Mr. Carteret
who had given me the trouble, who he knew did long oppose my
being chosen, because he had his son-in-law Cavendish, whom he
wished to bring in, and therefore would not yield up the point
till he could not help it ; but that even Carteret was not so entirely
to be blamed for that opposition, because Harwich is a Government
borough, where time out of mind one of the members has ever
been a place man, as in reason it should be, seeing the town depends
upon the Government, and though Mr. Carteret had acted on this
last occasion with a particular view to his own family, yet in the
general, the supporting the Government's interest and nomina-
tion of one member there, was a right thing. That for my sake
this maxim was laid aside, and therefore I ought to think I had
a favour done me, and endeavours should not be used to make
Harwich an independent borough. I interrupted him, and said,
I knew nobody desired it should be so, that Sir Philip had acted
nothing but in his own defence ; at which he shook his head and
said, '' Well," after which he stopped. Then, going on, he said,
"As to Heath's going down, it was no wonder. He had formerly
been chosen there, and had some friends there ; nor was it to be
wondered he should say things to gain him more, but he was positive
Sir Robert did not send him." I told him I knew very well he lied
in saying he did, but no orders coming down, he was left to serve
himself with Sir Robert's name. Mr. Walpole replied these were
things that would happen every where, and that in the end I found
the Government did serve me. I answered, I was sorry to see
he did not think I had reason to complain, but I should still say
I was very ill used. We then turned the discourse to public
matters, and talked over the Peace and the affair of the Hessian
troops, and he gave me sufficient reason why they ought to be
continued till the Emperor comes to agreement and a thorough
peace be established, namely, that they are not kept as the
malcontents pretend to defend the Hanover dominions, but really
to fulfil our engagements with the Dutch, who having nobody
to fear but the Emperor, would not in reason accede to the Treaty
of Seville, till they were sure they should be defended from the
Emperor's attacks by land ; that unless a formidable army covered
them on the side of Germany, they would in case of an attack
be obUged to accommodate themselves with the Emperor, and
so be obliged against their wills to quit our alliance, a thing to
be prevented by all means. That it is nothing but a good army
in Germany that prevents the Emperor and the King of Prussia
from commencing war, and that the quarrel between Prussia and
Hanover for a truss of hay is only a pretence to cover greater
matters, which the Emperor has in view, actuating the Court of

22 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 2-3

Prussia, over which he has got an ascendant, in what maimer he
pleases, but that the army we have procured in readiness against
their attempts prevents that cowardly Eong from stirring ; that
all our allies are sensible it is no electorate quarrel, but a more
general intention against the peace of Europe, and therefore Spain,
France and Holland, Denmark and Sweden all declared that if
Hanover should be attacked by Prussia, they would make it a
common cause and defend that State ; in a word, that the only
means to bring the Emperor to peaceable thoughts was to be
able to resist him by land. At parting, I said, with a serious face,
" Mr. Walpole, remember that Philipson must be out." He said
all should be done that could be. I replied, " Do you promise
it?" "I never promise," said he, "till a thing be done." 1
replied, " Then there's no occasion for promising ; but do you
promise to do what you can in it ?" He replied that he did very
heartily.

My conclusion, when he was gone, was, that if they can keep
Philipson in they still will do it ; that they will dismiss him, if at
all, very late, to keep a rod as it were over my brother and me,
imagining we shall be influenced in our voting during the session
by it. That possibly they will suspend doing anything till my
Lord Carteret comes over, and then lay the fault on him that he is
not turned out. Lastly, that by pretending a great difficulty to
compass his turning out, we are to think they have fully satisfied
us, and done so much that we must not be eager in my brother
Dering's affair. In the meantime, I can discover by all these
transactions what suggestions have been instilled into the King
against my brother Parker and me, and particularly that we
have been aiming to make Harwich an independent borough,
and concealed from him the bitter usage we have received, as well
as the vile character of Philipson, which being made kno^vn to his
Majesty, cannot but draw reflection on his Ministers, that they
have so long kept in an enemy to the present family, to prejudice
the interest and consequently cool the zeal of two men who are
the most attached to the Kiiig's interest of any in the kingdom
and that without any motive of interest, place, or pension.

Tuesday, 3 February. — This morning the Earl of Grantham
came to see me, and asked me if Sir Robert Walpole had spoke
to me yesterday at the House. I answered, I did not see liim,
but he had spoke to Sir Philip Parker, and taken notice that his
Lordship had mentioned to him the Har\dch affair, and that
he told Sir Philip in a laughing way if he had any interest, Philipson
should be out. "Yes," said Lord Grantham to me, "I told
Sir Robert that morning at Court that it was a shame two such
zealous men and who asked nothing, should be put to pain in
their borough by the Government's officer, and that he should
be kept in who was so kno\\Ti a disaffected man " ; to which
Sir Robert replied that he knew Philipson was so, and though
it was not his business, he should be out. My Lord thereupon
called the Duke of Newcastle up to be witness to what Sir Robert said.
Sir Robert repeated he should be out, and my brother and I made as
easy as possible there. The Duke of Newcastle said to him, he was
glad to hear him say so, for he was certainly a Jacobite. " Pray," said
Lord Grantham, "will you assure Sir Philip and my Lord Percival
of it to-day at the House, for they are both very angry, and

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 23

1729-30.

Sir Philip outrageous ; you take the way, else, to lose your friends."
That, Sir Robert promised, he would speak to us, and now you
tell me he did speak to Sir Philip, which I am very glad of. I
answered I had great obligations to his Lordship for entering so
into our affairs, and I doubted not Sir Robert's intentions at
present, but should hope to see it done, and that soon, because
when my Lord Carteret comes over, who protects Carteret the
Post Master, who protects Phihpson, they may decline meddling
in it, and lay the fault on my Lord Carteret. He replied, they
would not let it go so far, nor would my Lord Carteret's interest
keep him in, for the Court knew my Lord Carteret to be a false
man and no depending on him. I then told my Lord, that my
brother and I were more uneasy for the apprehension that we
had been misrepresented to the King and Queen, than for the
trouble we had at Harwich, for the keeping in place such a fellow
as Philipson to give us trouble there was so scandalous with respect
to ourselves, and so much against the King's interest, that it could
not be justified but by strong arguments that must be levelled
against my brother and me to the prejudice of our character, and
we were very unfortunate in that having testified more zeal than
any for his Majesty's Government and person, because we sought no
pension or employment, we should be repaid mth an ill opinion of
us. My Lord replied there was nothing of that ; he could assure me
that he had heard the King say he took me for one of the honestest
and most zealous subjects in his kingdom, and that the Queen had
told him she thought me one of the best men, and the King had
said the same of Sir Philip. I answered it made us both very
happy to hear this, as I should soon inform my brother, but I had
still another reason to suspect their good opinion of me, though
now it is cleared up, and that was my brother - Bering's not
succeeding to some place about the Prince after the Queen's gracious
audiences to me when I applied in his behalf. That she then said
she knew Mr. Dering, and that everybody spoke well of him,
and she was obliged to me for recommending so proper a man as
I characterised him to her son ; that she would put him into her
list, and do what she could with the King to obtain my request.
I told his Lordsliip I made a second application, and had the same
gracious encouragement to expect good event, but nothing was
come of it, which made me sure, seeing besides how much the
Prince desired it too, that some objections had been raised against
the person who recommended him. But after what his Lordsliip
now told me, I should revive my hopes, and, as the Scripture says,
possess my soul in patience. My Lord said he knew the Prince
desired every day more and more to have Mr. Dering about him,
and that the Queen must have a good opinion of him, for he never
heard her hint anything to the contrary, and last summer he was
admitted at Kensington into rooms that nobody else was, to play
at cards etc. I desired my Lord when fit opportunities offered
to drop a word to the Queen in his favour, which he readily promised.
Then returning to what I said about ill impressions given the
King or Queen, he assured me Sir Robert Walpole never gave
any, and that he had it from both their mouths ; that the Queen
had told him Sir Robert never had given her an ill character of
any person living ; and that the King one day, holding a scandalous
libel in his hand, said he wondered how Sir Robert should gain

24 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 3-4
personal enemies, who was nobody's enemy ; for I tell you, said
he, my Lord, he never in his life spoke ill of any one man to me,
and it is the only quarrel I have with him, that he will not tell me
who are my enemies. My Lord added that when he told
Sir Robert this. Sir Robert answered, " His Majesty does me
justice in this, for I am no man's enemy, nor would have any
man nnne, and never did in my life speak ill to the King of any one
man to hurt him."

Mr. Clerk dined mth me, and in the evening I went to the Royal
Society, being summoned to a Council, and was sworn in, it being
the first time of my appearance there since I was chose. We there
resolved, nem. cont., that for the future all members who had
been so long of the Society as to have paid twenty pounds in the
whole, should for the future be excused their annual payments
of fifty-two shillings per annum, and their bonds be delivered
up, and that all who are in arrears should upon payment of a
certain sum be for ever acquitted, and lastly, that future members
should be admitted on condition only of paying down at once a
sum of twenty-three pounds, or a sum near it, for I have forgotten
what it is exactly. Our reason was that very few at this day will
discharge their arrears or pay on, and we judged it the only way
to support the Society to take the resolution above mentioned.

Wediiesday, 4 February. — This morning came on a debate
in the House of Commons, of which I shall in a few days
send the following account to Doctor Coghill*, in Ireland, com-
missioner of the Customs there, and Privy Counsellor : —

Sir,

On Wednesday, 3rd inst., came on a very serious debate upon
continuing in British pay for one year longer the twelve thousand
Hessian troops. It began by a dispute whether this should be
considered in the House or in a Committee ; for when IVIr. Pelham,
Secretary of War, gave in the estimate of these troops, and moved
the House to go into a Committee accordmg to custom to consider
of it, Mr. Daniel Pulteney strong!}^ opposed it, alleging that
the continuing these troops is so great a charge to Great Britain,
and so umiecessary to her service and security, so evidently designed
for the defence alone of the Hanover dominions, and so certain an
entail upon these nations of a standing army for mterest which
Great Britain has no concern to support, that the House ought
to receive the motion with contempt and disdain, and reject it
without a debate ; or if it must be debated, it were better to do
it in the House, than in a Committee, as we should be the sooner
rid of it ; but he could not imagine one gentleman would defend
it who had any regard to the honour and interest of his country in
general, or to the sense of those he represented, and he should look on
any such to be betrayers of their liberties and enemies to the public.

Mr. Pelham said that it appeared very strange to him that the
constant custom of considering supplies in a Committee should be
broke into ; that he A^ould not make ansAA'er to that gentleman
and enter into the merits of his motion until the same was referred
to the Committee ; in the meantime he hoped the House would not
think it was for want of arguments to show the reasonableness of
entertaining the Hessians, which he could prove to be not only
fit but necessary.

* ISce p. G, supra.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 25

1729-30.

Sir William Lumly Sanderson made a warm speech for debating
this matter in the House, and, as if it had been already agreed
to, inveighed against the Peace, the measures taken of late years,
and the incapacity of our IVIinisters. He was answered by my
Lord Malpas, and Sir William Young, who insisted on going into
a Committee, till when he reserved what he had more to say in
defence of the Hessian troops. Sir Wilfrid Lawson repUed, that
by the backwardness of gentlemen to consider this matter in the
House, and by their not producing any arguments for maintaining
these Hessians, he concluded they were sensible of their disability
to produce any ; he added that as this was a motion of the last
and utmost consequence to the honour, interest, and liberties
of the nation, it was probable gentlemen might grow into great
warmth, and therefore he was desirous it might be debated in the
House, where the Speaker, who knew better than any man the
orders and rules of decency of their proceedings, and also knew
as well how to keep gentlemen to them, would prevent any
irregularities that might arise. He said it was plain to him, that
these Hessians are kept up singly to defend Hanover, and not
for any service intended to, or any collateral good that could
accrue to Great Britain. That this being the case, we ought to
consider how much the doing it impaired his Majesty's
Parliamentary title to the Crown, which he took to be his only
title, and that this title is a compact or contract made with this
nation, one part of which contract is that Great Britain shall not
be obliged to enter into wars for defence of his Majesty's German
dominions ; that if this be broke into on his side, his subjects
are absolved of their obligations. That this is the sense the nation
will put upon it, and therefore for the sake of his Majesty and
his family, he hoped the House would not support the measures
of a Ministry which had so fatal a consequence. That it were
to be wdshed when the Act of Succession passed provision had
been made to oblige his late Majesty to renounce Hanover to
some other Prince, that had he or any little Prince of Germany
been offered the Crowns of Great Britain and Ireland on that
foot, there is no doubt but they would have accepted them with
thanks, and not have refused so good a bargain, for the sake of a
mean, unworthy territory.

Sir Robert Walpole replied he was sorry to see so ill a return
made his Majesty for liis great care in concluding a Peace which
we had so lately thanked him for m the terms of just, honourable,
and advantageous, and which we have promised to support.
That it is visible his Majesty had calculated this Peace entirely
and solely with a vicAV to the interest of Great Britain, to her
honour, peace and trade, in so much that he had exposed his own
territories to a possibility of being invaded for our sakes. That
he never in his life saw so irregular a proceedmg, as to consider
supplies in the House before they passed the Committee ; but
seeing other gentlemen made so ill a use of his desire to keep to
Parliamentary methods, as to pretend that nothing could be said
in favour of the Hessians, he would consent that the House should
debate it now.

Secretary Pelham then declared he w^ould acquiesce in it, and
showed that the true design of the Hessian troops was never to
defend Hanover, but to guard one part of Europe from the

26 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 4
ambitious views of another. That it being justly doubtful whether
the Emperor would accede to the Treaty of Seville, from the back-
wardness he has hitherto shown, the troops he is marching, the
alhance he has formed with Prussia, Saxony, Muscovy, and other
lesser States of Germany, it was not only a prudent but a necessary
measure to be prepared against any attempt he should incline
to make not merely against his Majesty's Electorate dominions
but against any of the Powers engaged in alhance with
us to maintain the Treaty of Seville. That the Emperor
knows well if he could obhge the Dutch to withdraw from our
alliance, he should then dissolve the whole confederacy, and that
it would be in his power so to do, if that State lay open to his
attacks. That they therefore wisely stipulated an army should
be formed in Germany, ready to cover them, and resist an invasion,
and on that condition acceded to the Seville Treaty, wherein they
have no advantages allowed them by Spain comparable with
what Great Britain has obtained. That mth the help of these
Hessians, such an army is formed, as will in all probability prevent
the Emperor from going to war, but it is certain on the other
hand, if there be not a sufficient army, he will be tempted to invade
the States, who in such case must desert us, and then there's an
end of all we have been doing. That it is no less certain the main-
tenance of the Hessians is a charge, but for the reasons given it
is a prudent and necessary one, and we are not to think we deal
more hardly by ourselves, than our allies do by themselves, for
we are the only power which yet has reduced their forces ; that the
Spaniards augment theirs, the French maintain theirs, and the
Dutch who on occasion of the Hanover Treaty raised twenty-four
thousand men in addition to what they had before, still keep them on
foot ; that so little do all our allies look on this to be an electorate
quarrel, that as soon as the King of Prussia, influenced entirely
by the Vienna Councils, threatened to invade Hanover, France,
Holland, Denmark and Sweden declared to that Prince that they
looked on such an attempt as a cause wherein they w^ere all con-
cerned, not as a design to right himself in such trivial matters as
listing a dozen soldiers, or carrying away a load of hay, but that
his purpose was under that pretence to disturb the tranquility of
Europe, and particularly to fall upon Holland. As to what had
been said of the Act of Succession being impaired by keeping
up these troops one year longer, he could not see how it was
impaired more now than when in former years the same was done,
and this argument against them never urged, and everybody knows
that foreign armies taken into pay for a particular purpose is the
most usual thing in the world, and had ever been done when there
was occasion, not only by foreign States, but by our preceeding
Kings.

He was answered by Mr. Watkyn Williams Wjnine, who spoke
popularly, but not much to the argument, and by Mr. Oglethorpe,
who had spoke and voted for approving the Peace, but now proposed
the sending over twelve thousand English and Irish troops in
lieu of the Hessians, who he was sure would behave themselves
as bravely as any Germans whatever, or if they were raw men,
might garrison the Dutch towns, while as many Dutch might be
drawn out to supply the place of the Hessians. That by this
means those raw men would learn their trade in the best school of

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 27

1729-30.

discipline/ and might introduce the use of English manufactures
there to the great advantage of our trade, at least they would be
cheaper to us, in wearing our own cloth, hats, stockings, etc. ;
besides that, he had observed in looking over the estimate of the
Hessians, there is an officer to five private men, which must greatly
enhance the reckoning.

Mr. Dodington made a very handsome and strong speech for
the Hessians, and reduced the debate to the three only points
before us, whether we should make good our stipulations with our
allies, perfect the work already approved, and keep our word to
the King, as contained in our address, that we would stand by
and support him against all insults and indignities that should be
offered him. He showed the Peace of Seville was a variation only
not a violation of the Hanover Treaty, since it only provided
for the surer execution of what the Emperor had before yielded
to and which he afterwards seemed backward to execute ; but
nothing new was required of the Emperor or agreed upon between the
contracting Powers to his prejudice.

IVIr. Morris, son to the Admiral, expressed himself much against
the Peace itself, and the measure of supporting it by Hessian
troops. He said he looked upon it as maintaining a standing
army for the service of Hanover, contrary to the Act of Succession,
by which the King enjoys his Crown. That a constant annual
drain of two hundred and forty-one thousand pounds, which
must be in specie, for we have no trade to those parts, would be
sensibly felt in the general balance of our commerce, and distress
our manufacturers, by the diminution of our circulating cash.
That we ought to be very careful of laying unnecessary burthens
upon our fellow subjects, especially in such dangerous points
as these, because we find precedents grow upon us, and that we
never get rid of any weight when once laid upon us.

Lord Hervey answered him in a long and studied speech, which
did him a great deal of honour, and the more, that he made it seem
extemporary, by replying to particular objections and arguments
in the course they had been urged, some of which perhaps had
never entered his imagination.

Mr. George Heathcot, for whose sake the whole power of the
Ministry was exerted to give him admittance in the House to the
exclusion of Mr. Fox, who was generally supposed to have
the fairer right, made a very urgent and bold speech against the
Hessians. He said the keeping them at our expense was a breach
of the contract made with this family, and doubted whether it
would not throw us into a state of nature. That the English nation
have still the same sturdy temper their ancestors showed on
occasions as small as this ; small as it appears to some, though
really of the greatest consequence that ever came under debate,
both to the King and to the kuigdom. That our history shows
the nation has more than once eased themselves of the burthen
of Kings who kept not their contract, that the people will still be
ready to do the same if not kept under by a standing overgrown
army. That Kings of Great Britain have by law their bounds
assigned, which they cannot pass, no more than the people theirs :
when they do the people have a right to ease themselves. Richard
the second found it so, and examples are our tutors. That the
not defending Hanover at the expense of England is stipulated

28 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 4

in the contract made with this family, and is one of th^se bounds
our Kings cannot pass. That we ought to be precious of the
liberties handed down to us by that great man of immortal memory,
King William.

Mr. Barnard, member for London, said he was against the
address of thanks, not only because he did not approve the Peace,
but because he foresaw the Hessian troops would be kept up on
pretence of rendering the Peace a general one. That we were
then told it was an absolute one, and that the Emperor would
come into it, but now we are told the contrary. That he could
not be convinced by anything he had heard, that these troops were
for any other use than to defend Hanover from the resentment
of Prussia, for as to the Emperor, he believed he was not able to
attack the Dutch, neither was he willing, having no sort of quarrel
with them, as Prussia had with Hanover. He was not able without
the consent of Prussia, whose territories he must pass to come
at them, and Princes don't love their neighbours' armies should
tread their ground, though ever so good friends, and though
Prussia might possibly attempt upon Hanover, yet he could never
believe it would be on account of the Seville Treaty, wherein that
Prince had no concern for the issue, as he had a great one not to
disoblige Great Britain, because he has now a relation to it ; that
he is besides a Protestant Prince, and brother to our King, and
therefore he did not believe he would molest even Hanover itself,
though his resentment should be just, which is yet doubtful to
him.

Mr. Winnington expressed himself very well pleased with the
zeal which gentlemen showed for their country, and said if these
troops were to be kept up merely to protect the Hanover dominions,
he believed not one man would be for them, but he could not
help thinking they were necessary on a more general account,
and then enlarged on the reasons given by the Court side before.
He concluded with an observation on that article of the Act of
Settlement relating to the Hanover dominions, that it ends
with these words — " except with consent of Parliament." If,
therefore, added he, the Parliament should consent directly and
explicitly to defend the Hanover dominions for the sake of that
electorate alone, it could not be called a breach of the Act of
Succession, much less setting the people free from their obligations,
which was a strange doctrine.

Lord Morpeth spoke after him in his usual manner, and Shippen
next, who said nothing new, or indeed to the particular purpose,
but inveighed against the ministry on popular and general topics,
as is his custom.

Colonel Bladen said this matter had received so long a discussion,
that he would not recapitulate the arguments on either side, but
only express his own thoughts that these troops were not designed
for the service of Hanover, but of the common cause, and particu-
larly to make good our engagements to the Dutch, which could
not be done so cheap by sending troops of our own. That gentlemen
of the other side had agreed the Peace was as good as could be
expected, considering our circumstances, and the House had
already judged it in itself a very good one ; that being so, it was
inconsistent to do a thing that would render it ineffectual ; that
we had justly blamed a former Ministry for abandoning their allies,

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 29

1729-30.

and particularly the Dutch, to the mercy of the French, as a breach
of faith, and for us to leave them now at the mercy of the Emperor,
after they had acceded to a Peace wherein not they but we have
all the advantage, would be equally barbarous and impolitic,
for the consequence would be they would quit us, and then the
Emperor would have more heart to refuse liis accession, and the
charges which now fall on the Dutch would in case of a war fall
on Great Britain ; so that he looked on the maintaining these
Hessians to be a saving to the nation. That Hanover as a
Protestant State, deserved at least our affection, and that it would
be unjust and barbarous not to protect them from a danger we
ourselves have dra^vn them into, and which for our sake alone
they have incurred. That the Peace was never said to be universal,
but only absolute with respect to Spain ; that he could not but
observe that the Peace of Seville was lately represented of no
advantage to us, since the Emperor was so very terrible, that
he could alone withstand all the allies together and defeat our
schemes, but now the Hessian troops are proposed, he is represented
so insignificant that we need not take any measures to resist him.
This, he thought, was talking very inconsistently.

It is needless to trouble you with the contents of every gentle-
man's speech, they being only repetitions of what was said before,
for the argument was near exhausted. Mr. Thomas Windham,
who had two places given him, and was brought into the House
by Sir Robert Walpole, distinguished himself by the sharpness
and freedom with which he spoke against the Hessians and the
Ministry. He said, as an Englishman, he could not vote for them,
nor could show his zeal for his Majesty better than by appearing
warm in this affair. That his Majesty held his Crown by the
Act of Succession, and this was an infringement of it, and con-
sequently of his title ; that twelve thousand Hessians were a standing
army, be they where you will, and the maintaining them would
never be borne by Englishmen unless kept under by a standing
armj^ That the Ministr}^, our modern treaty mongers, and jack-
lanthoms had thrown everything into confusion ; that if we
must furnish twelve thousand men in Germany, why not send
them from England and Ireland ? What occasion for eighteen
thousand seven hundred men at home to parade it about and
powder their hair, unless it be to terrify the subject into slavery ?
Is not Great Britain safe at present, now that the only Powers
which can disturb us, are, as we are told, our best friends, France
and Spain ? Can there be a better opportunity to employ our
soldiers than this of sending them to Germany ; and will not that
show there is no design upon our liberties ? On the contrary,
have we not reason to suspect there are bad designs if they be left
here at a time when they may be useful abroad and save a great
expense to the nation ? The nation is poor, and though loyal,
discontented. They can bear no more, and will be convinced
how fit it Avere to ease them of their burthens, and their fears, by
sending part of our English troops abroad. Our soldiers and
officers are brave men, they, too, must be uneasy to be let rust at
home when they might be useful abroad ; it is a reflection on
their courage, there is a duty to our King and another to our
country, he must ever prefer the last to the first ; the King is
the greatest man in the world when he goes hand in hand with

30 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 4-5
his Parliament ; but if their interests are to be considered separately,
he thought it much safer the King should be under the influence
of his Parliament, than the Parliament under that of their King,
the rather, that to be under the King's influence is to be slaves of
a Ministry. He concluded that he had been misled by the opinion
he had of men, but had found such incapacity and insincerity in
them, that he would for the future judge for himself, as every
honest man must for the future do, if he will discharge his duty
to those he represents, and preserve his country from slavery,
which though not to be apprehended under his present Majesty,
for whom he was ready to sacrifice his life and fortune, and who,
he is satisfied, means well but is misled, may be feared from his
successor. He wished there never had been such a place as
Hanover, the Ministers of which Court had too great an influence
over our counsels in the late reign, and possibly may have some
in this. One gentleman having said it was irregular to debate
on the Hessians at all, since the motion ought to have been first
made for continuing these troops before the Estimate was given
in, otherwise the House would take no cognisance of it, Sir Philip
York denied that an irregular method had been followed, and
alleged that as tliis was a demand for money, it ought to arise
from the King, not from the House ; that accordingly the King
had demanded it, by giving the Estimate in as a consequence of
the treaties laid before the House, this being an engagement
which by those treaties liis Majesty had entered into, that it was
certainly both unusual and inconvenient to debate this matter
first in the House, because it could not be so thoroughly examined,
for want of that liberty of speech which is allowed in a Committee.
He then spoke to the subject itself.

I can't recollect any more of this debate, except that Sir Archer
Crofts, in his zeal, said that he would be for maintaining the
Hessians, though the defence of Hanover should be alone the
reason, because the King had done so much for us that we cannot
do enough for him, and besides, that it is a Protestant State, that
we see the Protestants abroad in all places oppressed, and that
he mshed there were more States of our religion under his Majesty
than he is already possessed of.

Mr. Veniey, the Welsh judge, though of the same side, said he
could not agree with Sir Archer, that if Hanover alone was concerned
the Hessians should be maintained ; that if Hanover should
accidentally be brought into question on account of the measures
taken by his Majesty for the sake of England, that indeed altered
the case ; but he did not take the thing even in this light, for he
judged that the Emperor's view is to dissipate our confederacy,
and for this reason must vote for the Hessians. He gave Ins
reasons why he preferred them to English troops, and said among
other things, that gentlemen who are so justly averse to a standing
army, should consider whether an army of foreigners paid only
yearly, and remaining in the midst of Germany, was not safer
for Great Britain than twelve thousand Englishmen raised for that
purpose, who, if what gentlemen feared were true, that these
Hessians are to be entailed upon us, would for the same reason be
kept for as long a time, and be more unwilling to be dismissed
than foreigners, and then indeed we should have an effectual
standing army. It was answered by some member that the

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 31

1729-30.

Hessians cannot march to the assistance of the Dutch when
required, because they must pass through territories devoted to
the Empire.

The speakers I have not already mentioned on either side were
Sir William Strickland, General Ross, and Mr. Cammel, of Wales,
for the Court, and Lord Morpeth, IVIr. Digby, Sir John St. Aubin,
Harley, Sands, Vernon, Viner, and Counsellor Bootle against it ;
the last hinted at a design to bring in a Bill to explain and amend
an old Act by which placemen and pensioners are excluded the
House.

Most of the arguments against the Hessians, though popular did not,
as I could see, belong to the debate, and I was perfectly convinced that
the question was no more than whether we would sacrifice our peace,
or take the probable means to secure it. I chose the latter, and
therefore voted ^^ith the majority. The debate, as you see, was
warm, and it lasted from one till eight, when the question being
put to refer the motion to a Committee, at first proposed by
Pelham, and, as was regular, we carried it two hundred and forty-
eight, against one hundred and sixty -nine, which terminated
the struggle ; for neither side thought fit to renew the debate,
and it passed the Committee without a word against it.

Sir, I am very much obliged to you for the favour of yours ;
what are the several duties on raw wool and on worsted and
woollen yams in England and Ireland, I know not. I think 1
told you Mr. Scroop said that affair must pass the Irish Parliament
as well as English, and therefore nothing could be done this session.
There is another design of bringing in a Bill to allow the free
importation of Irish cattle by repealing the Act passed in
King Charles the Second's reign that prohibited it. I should be
glad of your thoughts upon it.

I am. Sir, &c.,

Percival.

To the Rt. Honble. Marmaduke Coghill, Esq.,
In Dublin.

Thursday, 5 February. — I went to Court, where the King again
spoke to me, and it was the more remarkable because there was
a great crowd, many Dukes, Earls, etc. ; and he had spoke to me
tmce successively before, yet I was the first he addressed himself
to, after my Lord John Russell had been presented to kiss his hand,
and then he turned to the French Ambassador, and spoke to nobody
else, but withdrew. I had the pleasure to see Carteret of the
Post Office present, who stood like a colonel advanced beyond
the line before all the courtiers, and none but he and the King
at their ease within the circle. As soon as the King retired, I saw
him make up to Townsend, which I suppose was to tell his story his
own way. I did not go to the House, but dined with. Mr. Dodington,
where were my brother Parker, Mr. Cary, and Mr. Vyner. I found by
Mr. Dodington's free way of talking that I have not been in the
wrong in thinking a long time past that the Speaker is forming
a party in the House of reasonable Tories and discontented Whigs,
to rise upon the ruins of Sir Robert Walpole. He said that the
Ministry had used him at Winchelsea as ill in his borough, though
a Lord of the Treasury, as we complain we are used by them at
Harwich. He also ridiculed Sir Robert, for having such a passion
to the House of Commons, because he shined so well in the debates,

32 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 5-8
that he dressed himself out every morning to appear there, as if it
were to see his mistress. Dodington had been a creature of the
Earl of Sunderland ; Gary of my Lord Wilmington, and Vjrner
the son of a famous Lord Mayor in King James' reign ; but this
gentleman denied himself to be a Jacobite, and insisted he was for
nothing but his country ; he speaks to figures in the House, and
with spirit, and always divides with the Tories, and does not want
for sense, nor words in private discourse, in which last he is a little
redundant, for he swears like a dragoon.

Friday, 6 February. — This morning Mr. Taylor came and we
discoursed over affair of my estate, after which I went and visited
Sir Thomas Hanmer, who was at home ; there I found my wife's
uncle, Mr. Bromly, who was Secretary of State to Queen Anne, and
his son ; and soon after camein Mi\ Shippen, IVIr. Watkyn Williams
Wynn, and two other gentlemen of the greatest distance from the
Court. I guessed they came to consult together, and immediately
withdrew. I afterwards called on my Lord Bingly, the Duke of
Argyle and Sir Edward Knatchbull, who were all abroad. I then
went to the House, but there was nothing to do except to read
the land tax, which is this year two shillings in the pound.

Mr. Taylor and Dr. Couraye dmed with me. I stayed the
evening at home. Cousin Le Grand and Cousin Fortrey called
upon me.

Saturday, 7. — This morning I visited IVIr. Horace Walpole,
Major Smith, Brother Percival, Sir Edward Dering, and Cousin
Southwell, who were all at home, the first excepted. I afterwards
returned home, and my Lord Bingly came to see me, who talking
among various other things of the French Prophets, as they were
called (those enthusiasts who some years ago came into England
and infected some of our oa\ti people, and were headed by Fashew of
Geneva and others), told me how pleasantly they were expelled
Yorkshire. It seems a band of them came to York City, and
having taken a room began to preach. Now at their religious
exercises they used strange convulsive postures, stretching out a
leg, after that an arm, grinning, shaking the head, and such like,
as the Quakers did, when first that sect sprung up. An apothecary
of the town happening to be by at the time, and seeing one of
those people begin irregular and distorted motions, was surprised,
imagining the man was suddenly seized mth convulsive fits, there-
upon drew out his lancet, and calling one to his assistance, had
him held, in order to bleed him. The man's enthusiasm increasing
on him, more help was required, and so he being overpowered by
dint of strength, was fairly let blood to so great a quantitj^ that
he came to himself, and his fits passed off, the apothecar}^ declaring
he must be obliged to let him bleed on till thej^ did so. This
acjcident turned these peoj^le into so great ridicule, that they could
not stand the jests that everywhere were made of them, but sneaked
away, and not onlj^ abandoned the city but the county.

After my Lord had ended his visit, I went to Court, where there
was a great crowd, the two Houses not sitting this day. Mr. Carteret
was there likewise, who saw both the King and Queen speak a
considerable time to me, and the Queen returned to talk to me a
second time, while nothing was said to him, all which, doubtless,
mortified him exceedingly. The Queen talked much of
Doctor Couraye, and praised me for protecting him. I replied

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 33

1729-30.

it was her Majesty who was his protector by her generosity to him.
She replied, not at all, but that she thought him a very honest
man, and would see him in the summer ; that in the meantime
she would have me assure him she would take care of him, but,
I think, said she, he is still a Papist. " True, Madam," said I,
*' but he agrees with us in the great point in difference." " What
is that ?" said she. "It is," said I, "in the Sacrament of bread
and wine." " But," said she, " that is nothing, while he owns
the Pope's infallibility." " Madam," said I, "he owns no
infallibility either in Pope or Councils." " Why then," said she,
" does, he not declare himself a Protestant ?" " Madam," said I,
" the wonder is how he is so much a Protestant considering he is
a monk, but he has a scruple, which I take to be more a point of
discipline than religion, and that is, he thinks there ought to be
a visible head of the Christian Church." " We must not own
that," said she, " in England." "No, Madam," said I, " nor
does he desire he should have any power here, but he thinks the
ancient Church always owTied such a sort of head ; for the rest
he does not wish he had such power as to disorder the constitution
and government of this or any other State." " I think," said
she, " he has writ in favour of our Ordinations ?" " Yes, Madam,"
said I. " Why," said she, " the Papists do not deny our Ordinations
to be good." " Madam," said I, " the Church of France has not
yet formally denied them ; but the generality of their clergy
deny it." Sslys she, " when I was in Germany, a Jesuit told me
our marriages, baptism, and the other sacrament are good for those
who receive them, but that our clergy were sinful in administering
them." " Madam," replied I, " Dr. Couraye thinks otherwise
of our clergy, and therefore has so provoked the clergy of France
that he must never think of going back." " No," said she, " he
must not." " He was," said I, " tempted back when last in
Holland, but he would not venture." " He was in the right of it,"
said she, " he'd pass his time but ill."

After this, the King came up and said something to me, asked
me whether I ever went to Charlton in the winter. I answered,
" No, my family were always here in this season ; my house is
cold, and it would be inconvenient to go." He said I was in the
right hand, especially since I must go through the City ; that a bridge
at Lambeth would be convenient, and the clamour the City would
raise against it would soon be over, as it was against the bridge at
Fulham.

This constant speaking to me is a demonstration that I have
been misrepresented to the King, and that the Court are returned
to those favourable thoughts it had of me a year ago, and I look
upon this gracious regard of me now as proceeding from a desire
in them that I should perceive their sensibility of having wronged
me in their opinion.

My Lord Grantham took an opportunity to take me aside and
tell me that Sir Robert Walpole had again desired him to tell me
that Philipson should be out, adding that he was a vile fellow.

Cousin Fortrey dined with me. I passed the evening at home.

Sunday, 8 February. — Went to St. James's Church, where
Dr. Territ preached a very good sermon on the distinction
between moral and positive duties, and shewed the Christian
religion did not free men from the former, which have the preference

Wt. 24408. B 3

34 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 8-10
over the latter, though both are to a Christian necessary. His
text was, " These ought you to have done, and not have left the
other undone." I stayed at home the rest of the day, and
Dr. Couraye dined with me, who was much pleased Avith the
Queen's discourse about him. In the evening Mr. John Temple,
Mr. St. Hyacinth, and brother Parker came to see me. My brother
told me he had writ to Harwich that Philipson would be out, that
our friends may take heart again.

Monday, 9. — This morning I visited Mr. Taylor, Mr. St. Lenger,
and Dr. Territ, which last was at home. Went to the House.
I met Captain Lucas, of Harwich, who came this morning to
town, doubtless upon the report that Philipson is to be out, to get
his employment. After dinner, went to our Music Club. I read
a sixpenny pamphlet writ in defence of the Ministry, entitled
" The Treaty of Seville, and the Measures of the last four years,
impartially considered in a letter to a friend," which ought to put
a stop to the clamours of people against the Administration. It
is of a clear style, methodical, and shows that the best steps have
been taken since the Treaty of Hanover that could be to settle
Europe.

Tuesday, 10. — This day the House met upon a motion of
Sir William W5Tidham's to consider of the state of the nation.
The Speaker acquainted us A\dth the Rule of Parliament, that
before the House resolved itself into a Committee, gentlemen
should call for the papers they judged necessary for a foundation
of their proceedings, that they might be referred to the Committee,
for that whatever was not so referred could not be made use of.
This produced a debate, Daniel Pulteney, William Pulteney,
IVir. Gibbons, Sir William Wjnidham, Winnington, and Sir Joseph
Jekyl alleging that the consideration of the state of the nation
was so general a thing, and took in so many heads that it was
impossible to particularize every paper that might be necessary
to their proceedings, and that the journals wliich contained them
were though no record abroad, yet a record to the House, which
every member had a right to call for and make use of in their
debates. Secretary Pelham and Sir Robert Walpole replied,
that the Committee could not use or argue from papers they were
not possessed of, and therefore gentlemen should now move for
what they think necessary, but they hoped it was not the intent
to ask for papers, or recur to the journals that relate to past
transactions already determined ; that on the conclusion of a session
the matters which passed that session are over, and not to be
overhauled, so as to render the papers and journals concerning
them a foundation of new enquiry and resolutions ; if that were
so, nothing could receive a final determination, but the most
important things, and which have long ago been decided, would
be rendered uncertain, and set into a fluctuating condition. If
gentlemen would recur to the journals for information only, it
should not be opposed, but anything they contain ought not to
be made a foundation in this enquiry on the state of the nation,
for then a Prorogation would not put an end to a session.
Mr. William Pulteney said some papers were fit to be called for,
and accordingly moved for the Treaty of Seville, and the Dutch
accession, both which were ordered. Then he added that nothing
was more usual than to make past matters a ground and a foundation

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 36

1729-30

of future enquiries and resolutions. Were not the Ministry of
Queen Anne's reign impeached by a subsequent Parliament, though
the former Parliament had approved their proceedings ? If what
Sir Robert said was true, there could be no impeaching a bad
Ministry hereafter; it seemed to him as if some gentlemen were
apprehensive of an impeachment ; he could assure them he had
no such thought, and if any one else intended it, he was not in the
secret.

The Speaker then desired to explain himself, and said that
by not using papers uncalled for, he did not mean they might
not be used as part of gentlemen's speech, and if he was of another
opinion formerly, he was not ashamed to owti his mistake ; but
they could not be made a foundation of their debates.

Oglethorp said he did not know but the result of this enquiry
into the state of the nation might end in an impeachment : what
can or ought to tie up the hands of a House of Commons ; if
impeachments are a right that belong to us, we must be allowed
the means to do it, and they must be the going back to former
times however sanctified by Parliament. At length it was under-
stood and agreed that the journals should be made up of, as part
of gentlemen's speeches, for that they were not a bare history of
facts, but kept for use as well as instruction, but they should not
be used as a foundation for censuring. And Mr. Edgcomb was
voted into the chair.

The House being now resolved into a Committee, Sir William
W3Tidham rose up and said that as he had moved for an enquiry
into the state of the nation, it was incumbent on him to open
the debate, by considering the state of our affairs both at home
and abroad ; that as to home affairs, the proper enquiries would
be, first, the condition of our trade, and particularly the decay of our
woollen manufacture, as also the balances against us in our com-
merce with particular nations. Second, the low state of our coinage.
Third, the management of the public revenue, which has been
long in the hands of one man without a Parliamentary examination.
Fourth, the administration of justice and grievances that attend
the law. As to affairs abroad, our enquiry should be : first, the
condition of our allies ; second, the state of our alliances ; third,
our foreign acquisitions, whether secure in Europe and America ;
fourth, the neglect of our merchants in the stipulations made
with the States in alliance with us. The honour of the Crown
insulted by the French, in not sticking to our flag even in our
ports, and the turning out a lieutenant of our own for firing on
them to oblige them to it. Fifth, the danger to our plantations
by the encroachment of the French on the back of them. Sixth,
the unnecessary embargo on our ships laid in Jamaica, which
restrained our own subjects from trading, while France got the
advantage of the Spanish commerce. But what he thought of
more immediate consequence than all the rest, and what should
fire the breast of every Englishman, was a matter he would com-
municate to the House, that fell under his knowledge since the day
he made his motion : a discovery that he was under an absolute
obligation to communicate to the Committee. It is, said he,
the restoration of the harbour of Dunkirk. I have in my hand
an account that Dunkirk harbour is restoring to its former condition,
and there are several credible persons, masters of ships, now

36 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 10
waiting at your door to be examined to it. My motion is that you
will call them in and hear them ; that if you find they make full
proof of what I have discovered to you, no time may be lost in
putting a stop to the works that are carrying on.

Mr. Horace Walpole hereupon got up, and said this was a perfect
surprise upon him, that though he would not say it was irregular
to propose a particular subject for debate that had not been first
mentioned in the House and referred to the Committee, yet he
must say it was not very usual ; and that it was unkind in
Sir William not first to have acquainted gentlemen in the
Administration with this matter, that they might be prepared
to speak upon it ; that he hoped before these persons at the door
were examined, the Committee would allow the Ministry to produce
the papers they had in their possession, in order for their justifica-
tion from any neglect that might be imputed to them. That as
this was a sort of accusation upon them, justice required this
indulgence should be granted ; other\vise it would be hearing a
cause ex parte. That several instances had been made by our
Court to that of France concerning the works carrying on at
Dunkirk, but he would say no more at present till a proper day
were assigned to consider this matter ; and therefore moved the
Committee should not hear the evidences till the day were set.

Will. Pulteney said what had last been proposed was irregular.
This matter being opened appeared a proper business for the day ;
he did not see what use the deferring this to another was of,
unless to send for Mr. Armstrong, employed in inspecting Dunkirk,
and oppose the evidence of a man, paid by the Crown, to say
what the Ministry should dictate, to the information of reputable
men. He was therefore for calling them in.

Sir William WjTidham said he supposed our enquiries would not
end this night, but it was necessary to hear the captains now,
because the}^ were soon to go to sea, and one of them in three days,
so that the desiring to put the hearing off could be for no other
end but to lose their e\ddence. Sir William said the House should
have referred the hearing this matter to the Committee, which
not being done, the Committee was not possessed of it, and therefore
seconded Mr. Walpole for deferring the matter till papers were
called for relating to it. It must be observed that neither he,
nor Walpole, ever spoke so ill and disconcerted, and with less
weight, and as the restoring of Dunkirk is a thing of the highest
consequence to the trade and safety of the nation, their opposing
to receive immediate information concerning the repairs now
carrying on raised a great indignation in the House.

Sir Robert Walpole, who observed their error, rose, and said he
should be for hearing the merchants now, provided no question
should pass upon it ; for that would be unreasonable till the House
received the fullest light on both sides. That it was very unfor-
tunate Colonel Armstrong should be sent Wednesday last to
Dunkirk, the very day that Sir William had his information, other-
wise he would be able to give the House a further light than what
they ought to content themselves with from these captains. That
it would be necessary to send for him back, and it would have
been better to hear the captains and him at one time, but since
the House were otherwise inclined, he, as he said before, would be
for hearing them now, provided no resolution should pass.

FIRST VISCOITNT PERCIVAL. 37

1729-30.

Mr. Perry, member for London, said he was for hearing them now,
and afterwards addressing the King to lay before the House all
the proceedings that had been taken by our Court relating to this
affair.

Then the captains and master were called in ; they were six or
seven in number, and agreed exactly in their description of the
harbours of Dunkirk and Mardyke and the reparations carrying
on.

The first captain informed us that in November was twelve-
month the piles drove in to stop the harbour were pulled up, that
the harbour has been cleansed, and the water that comes into the
canal of Mardyke can be let out at Dunkirk, to keep that harbour
clean ; that thirty gun-ships can now go up it, and he saw two
ships built and launched there of ninety-five foot in the keel and
four hundred ton ; that at high water there is a depth of eighteen
or twenty foot, and he saw a ship with twenty-four guns mounted
sail out with thirteen foot water. Another captain being examined,
said he sailed in at the dead of the nip two hours before high water,
and drew nine foot water. Another said he saw abundance of
soldiers at work, which he knew by their waistcoats and breeches ;
that formerly there was but one battalion there, now there are two ;
that he saw them work by moonlight to give less jealousy, or to
hasten the repairs, and that the Duke of Boufflers had been lately
there to quicken the works ; that the jetties are repairing, by filling
up the spaces between the posts with mud and covering them
with stone, which was easy for them to do, because the posts of
these jetties were never pulled up, but only sawed even to a level
with the water, and were now covering ; that the inhabitants
declared the harbour was to be restored ; that the rents of houses
have lately risen considerably, and the number of x>eople much
increased ; that in a very little time, even in a week, if they go
on, they may restore the channel and harbour, for they work on
Sundays, and that they are sure of succeeding in this ; that they
have neglected Mardyke. That several English have been
imprisoned or forced out of town, for being too inquisitive about
these works, and even Colonel Armstrong civilly imprisoned in
the Governor's house, that he might be prevented from making
observations, though employed by the Government, as they heard,
for that very purpose.

When these people had finished their evidence, which lasted till
six o'clock, by reason of a multitude of questions put them, and
particularly by the Court's side, which were many of them captious,
and answered not at all to their satisfaction, Sir William Wyndham
rose up, and said he believed the House were satisfied from the
important discovery now made, and the unanimous agreement
of the evidence, that the reparations carrying on are a serious
thing, and that no time should be lost ; nevertheless, as it was
now very late to begin a debate, and that it had been desired
not to proceed to a question this night, if other gentlemen were
of the same opinion, he should be for ending here, and resuming
the matter another day ; but he hoped it should be speedy, and
no new matter entered upon till this was determined. Mr. William
Pulteney, Mr. Sands, Mr. Vernon, and Mr. Oglethorp expressed
themselves rather desirous to proceed, but yielded to Sir William's
opinion. Sir Robert Walpole confessed this a very serious matter and

38 DIARY OT THE

Feb. 10-12
said he would have not only this but everything else that had been
contained in Sir Wilham's speech as heads of enquiry, impartially
and thoroughly sifted, but he hoped the House would not defer going
upon the other head till this should be done with, because it would
occasion a loss of time ; he was so desirous of having everything plainly
enquired into, that he proposed every other day should be applied
to that purpose and to begin next Thursday ; that with leave of the
House, he would propose to-morrow some motions that would
give satisfaction. The House seemed unwilling to interrupt this
affair of Dunkirk by new subjects, but at last acquiesced. I should
not omit that Sir Robert Walpole dropped some words as if it
might possibly be in vain to expect redress mth respect to
Dunkirk, which made me recollect what a member told me that he
believed we should fuid that in the Utrecht Treaty, which
demolished Dunkirk, there was a separate article to permit the
French to restore it again, but I knew not how to believe it.

Wednesday, 11 February. — I did not stir out this day. I
heard Sir Robert Walpole 's motion was made this morning,
and was only to address the King to lay before the House the
proceedings and papers relating to Dunkirk. Mr. Gore, the clergy-
man, was to see me : he is my tenant at Knockloghert. He told
me Canturk is in a very thriving way, and that Purcell, one of
my tenants there, had an offer of ten thousand pounds credit
from the merchants of Bristol, on account of the credit his woollen
yam is in, which spinning he carries greatly on. He said that
Mr. Taylor, my steward, and liimself, had undertaken to find
money enough by subscription to build a church there, and that
the Bishop seemed earnest for it, too, but Mr. Aldworth, of New-
market, opposed it, in apprehension that although it now is desired
on the foot of a chapel of ease to Newmarket Church, yet hereafter
it Tvill be made a distinct parish, to the prejudice of the mother
church, and perhaps Mr. Aldworth might be cooled in this affair
by Mr. Aldworth's reluctance and opposition, if I did not write to
his lordship to keep him steady. Gore repeating this t\vice, gave
me some jealousy that I was to be dra\\Ti into something I might
not like, the rather that the Bishop, when in England last year,
was so earnest with me for having a church there, which he said
he would find a way to support, when built, that he wanted none
of my quickening, and besides, Mr. Taylor told me his Lordship
was one who laid hold of everjiihing to carry on a point for the
church, and had cautioned me to be wary in anything I should
say or ^\Tite to his Lordship.

Brother Dering told me to-day that he was come from Court,
where the Queen spoke to him, and that my Lord Grantham
told him the Queen intended to do for him, which shows my
Lord Grantham had spoke of him to her, as he promised me he
would. All this is a confirmation that the Court is returned to a
good opinion of me, and that I have had enemies who misrepre-
sented me to their Majesties.

Thursday, 12 February. — Mr. Duncomb came to see me
and said he had been three hours this morning with Horace
Walpole. I asked him what he had said about the affair of
Dunkirk ; he answered, he could not understand what he said,
but for his own opinion he thought we were in a strange situation,
that the works carrying on at Dunkirk is directly against the

FIRST ViSCOtJNT PERCIVAL. 39

1729-30.

treaty, and yet we are in no condition to break with France, besides
that it would ruin our late Peace, which he thought a very good
one. I said I was as much at a loss as he, but that m doubtful
cases we ought to choose what looked the fairest ; that the suffering
to restore Dunkirk is dishonourable and dangerous to the kingdom,
and therefore it became necessary and is the duty of every member
to come into addressing the King to make strong instances at the
Court of France to stop their works. That now the House have
taken notice of the affair, it becomes us to go honourably through
it, and as the King Avill undoubtedly return us a kind answer, that
he will renew his mstances as we desire in our address, so the
instances he shall make being backed by the united and universal
sense of the Parliament will have the greater weight. Whether this
will meet success, I could not foresee, but it seemed the best manner to
proceed in, and that it would be infinitely more the Ministry's
advantage to make no opposition to so popular and national a point,
as the reducing Dunkirk to its first demolished condition, than to
turn this enquiry into a joke, as they did the other day, and to
discourage our enquiry into the state of Dunkirk ; that this would
confirm the jealousy, that we have given Dunkirk up to France as
an equivalent for her steadiness to our alliance against Spain. He
replied, we ought to respect the general good of the nation, and
take into our \iew the whole compass of affairs, rather than dwell
strictly on a single particular that, tho' not to be approved, might
if resented unhinge the whole scheme of our affairs. That if we
cannot help ourselves in the point of Dunkirk, which he thought
we could not, we should make the best of it, and not unravel all
we have been doing ; that perhaps it might satisfy us that Dunkirk
be left a trading to^^Ti, provided the forts and citadel be not
restored, which in such case will leave us at liberty to molest them
in their harbour as much as they could molest us by their privateers
in a case of a war with that kingdom ; that tliis was making the
best of a bad bargain, and the consequence could not be worse
than to go into a direct war with France, because in that case the
forts and fortifications, and harbour, would undoubtedly be restored
to the condition they were in before the demolition.

I kncAV his attachment to the Ministry, and believed it probable
that Mr. Walpole had sent him to sound me. I therefore spoke my
mind freely to him, that the opinion of gentlemen independent
as I am, and at the same time zealous for his Majesty's honour
and government, might be understood by the Ministry. I told him
that I thought a vigorous address on this subject would strengthen
and enforce our Kmg's application at France to stop the works.
That the Ministry ought for their o^\ti interest to concur in it,
that in so doing they would stave off the load they are under till
next year, because much time \^ill be spent in our proceedings
here before the King can write to France, and France will take time
to return an answer, before wliich this session will end ; that gaining
time is all ; that if the Ministry endeavour to hinder our enquiry,
to throw cold water on it, or to justify the Court of France, they
will become exceedingly unpopular, and lose the few independent
persons who yet stick by them. That I am one, and I know several
others, who in this affair will vote with the other side, in case we
find what was given in evidence at the bar last Tuesday is true,
because we cannot do otherwise, without exposing our character

40 tolARY OF 1?HE

Feb. 12
of honest men and lovers of our country. That the majority
will undoubtedly be on this occasion against the Court, which
if the Ministry suffer, there is an end of them ; that if the Ministry
should by the weight of places, pensions, and promises carry a
division against us, it would certainly be by so small a majority
as would endanger them (though successful) in the following session.
That nobody wished them extricated out of this difficulty more
than myself, who have no mind to displace them for others who
I do not think so capable, nor honester to their country, and that
I would give fifty guineas out of my pocket to be excused every
vote I should be obliged to give against the Ministry, so great was
my regard for them, and the King's honour, who employs them ;
but though I had all the attachments in the world for the Court,
and all the regard possible for the Ministry, yet I had a greater
person than King or Ministry to serve, and that was God, Who
speaks to me by my conscience, and commands me to act for the
good of my country in fulfilling a trust committed to me. That
I was far from laying my finger on small faults, and joining the
party now against the Court to vex and distress the Ministry, in
order to displace them right or \\Tong, and get into their places,
for I should be very sorry to see them succeed in it ; but a point of
this importance would oblige me to go against the Court if proper
and ■wise measures were not taken to put a good end to it, and I
heartily wished the information we had received may prove false,
though I doubted it too true.

He said we both had the same sentiments in the main, but by
this unlucky affair, we must expect the Emperor will not declare
for peace, or yield to the Treaty of Seville, but keep us on in
suspense, in hopes to see us quarrel with France, in which case
we must have recourse again to him, and then our Seville Treaty
is at an end, and our merchants will feel the effect of Spain's
resentment.

I replied, I did not apprehend the Emperor can keep us in
suspense, for Don Carlos is to go to Italy peremptorily in May,
and the Emperor must then declare himself whether he will jdeld
thereto or oppose. He said he saw the members fall every day
from the Court, and beHeved at last there would be a majority
against it, which he thought a perfect fatality, some evil star now
reigns, nor could he account for it, otherwise than that the Ministry
have not endeavoured to do popular things in which they were
much to blame. I answered, they have not yet had time for it,
but the taking off the duties of soap and candles, intended by them,
is one very popular thing.

He answered, he spoke of former years ; that when this King
succeeded his father, he was inclined to break a great part of the
standing army, and was so advised by my Lord Wilmington, but
Sir Robert Walpole told his Majesty he must pursue his father's
schemes, and that if he broke his army, he broke himself ; that
when this year the King broke five thousand men, he had better have
broke but fifteen hundred, by breaking them in corps, than by
keeping up the corps and reducing only private men. That he
looked on the Pretender as a phantom, and more soldiers might yet
be reduced ; that it is incredible the dissatisfaction the country is
in at the keeping so many, and that for his part he apprehended no
danger but from a standing army.

SIRST VISC0ITN1? PERCIVAL. 41

1729-30.

I answered that I really did not think thirty thousand men,
our present number, ought to give any jealousy of our Uberties,
considering how they are dispersed in Ireland, Scotland, Gibraltar,
Port Mahon, and the West Indies. A second unpopular thing,
he said, was the King's nearness in money matters, and hoarding
up, while the people are loaded with taxes. A third was the
several votes of credit of the late years unaccomited for, the forty
thousand pounds, and the last year's one hundred and fifteen
thousand pounds demanded and extorted from the Parhament.
A fourth, was the regulation of not permitting officers to sell or
buy, which in time of peace prevents rising in the army, and dis
contents them all from the highest to the lowest. He thought
it would be a small matter out of the King's pocket if he himself
would buy the posts of those who are desirous to sell, and dispose
them gratis to others, by wliich means he would in some measure
keep his regulation, and oblige everybody without hurting his
service. A fifth unpopular thing, was the King's not speaking
to the country gentry when they come to Court, which tries them,
and makes them declare they have no business to come there,
since they are not regarded, and so they betake themselves to
the discontented party. Lastly, he instanced the neglect the
Ministry show of the ancient gentry and men of fortune in the
disposal of employments and favours, which they choose to bestow
on little and unknown persons, and such whose character and
principles cannot be so good as those of persons known and dis-
tinguished in their countries.

I could not but assent to these things, because they are true,
but I was a little reserved in my answers. We both concluded
our discourse by agreeing that it w as liighly reasonable the IVIinistry
should be allowed time to answ^er to the affair of Dunkirk, which
was an attack upon them, and we agreed to be for putting off the
further enquiry to what day Sir Robert Walpole should name
this morning to the House.

I afterwards called on my brother Parker, and went with him
to the House, where Sir William Wyndham, in a long speech,
recapitulated the Dunkirk enquiry, and then desired to know when
the House might expect the papers addressed for. Sir William
Strickland answered him, and after reflecting on the Craftsman
and other seditious papers, proposed the not expecting the papers
till this day fortnight, and therefore that the House would adjourn
the debate till then.

Sir Robert Walpole said he must still say the manner of
Sir William Wyndham's introducing his motion was unprecedented,
for though the enquiry into the state of Dunkirk does belong to
the consideration of the state of the nation, yet being a particular
matter it ought to have been proposed to the House and referred
to the consideration of the Committee, which then had been
possessed of it, but is not regularly so now. That the Committee,
having moved the House to address the King for all papers and
transactions relating to Dunkirk since the demolition, took in
abundance of materials for their information, for all the orders,
instructions, representations, answers, letters and arguments that
had passed between the two Courts, and betw^een our own and
our Ministers and surveyors ever since the year 1713, must be
copied out, and many translated into English, which might require

42 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 12

a fortnight's time to lay before us, but besides, Colonel Armstrong,
who is gone to France, must be recalled, and his return depended
on accidents of wind and tides, and perhaps sickness ; that he
desired the state of Dunkirk should be thoroughly examined into,
and then perhaps it would appear that all that had been given
in at the bar was not true ; that Colonel Armstrong, an honorable
man, the chief engineer of England, employed at first in the
demolition, and ever since made use of to inspect proceedings there,
was a person of more credit as he had more knowledge than the
captains who appeared at the bar, and would be able to give a
juster information to the House. That in the meantime he left
it mth us to judge who were more zealous for enquiring into the
state of the nation, those who were against proceeding to other
matters subject to this enquiry, or those who would have nothing
proceeded on till Armstrong returned ; that he thought the losing
so much time was really throwing cold water on this solemn enquiry.
That he was so eager for going to the bottom of the Dunkirk affair,
that if he stood alone he would himself move for a particular day
to go upon it, but this day fortnight was proposed, and he joined
with it ; he really desired information himself, confessing his
ignorance of the state of Dunkirk, because it was out of his provmce
and place ; it belonged to the Secretary of States' Office, and there
had been several since 1713, one of which (meaning my
Lord Bolingbroke) might j^ossibly have destroyed some papers
relating thereto. Mr. Hughes said a captain of a Dover packet
had told him he was very lately at Dunkirk, and saw no men at
work there, and no piles dra^vn up ; that there had indeed lately
been a sudden torrent of water, which broke down some of the
piles, which the French did not repair, and that was all. He there-
fore must suspend his judgment till he had better information
than what was given all on one side at the bar.

Mr. Daniel Pulteney said this was all to throw cold water on
the enquirj^ and insinuated that Armstrong is j^et at Dover only,
and might be here next Wednesday at furthest ; he said the least
step taken by the French in restoring Dunkirk was a violation of
the Treaty ; he reasoned on the demolishing ; justified the manner
of Sir William Wyndham bringing in his motion, by a case some-
thing parallel but worse, which happened two years ago, when
Sir Robert Walpole surprised the House with papers he pulled
out of his pocket, not called for. He concluded we were in a
deplorable condition, that we dare not do ourselves justice.

Secretary Pelham said the only thing before us was what day
to adjourn this enquiry to, that a hasty enquiry was truly thromng
cold water upon it. His speech was much the same with Sir Robert
Walpole 's.

Mr. Plummer and Mr. Dundas for gi^ing the Ministry all the
time they desire, but believe they will never be able to excuse
France in this matter.

Will. Pulteney wishes the House would use no delaj^ in so
important a matter, and thereby show our people, and the kingdom
of France, what resentment we have at the works carrying on
at Dunkirk. Papers may be had in a little time. Lord Stair's
memorial not long, and a few others would suffice. This number
of papers, instructions, memorials, representations etc., spoke of
by Sir Robert, is like what we were told last year of wheelbarrows

First viscotrNT percival. 43

1729-30.

of papers to be brought in, which ended in two or three papers only ;
thought we were ripe now to proceed, and whatever evidence
Armstrong should give, could only be negative ; believed if we defer
our enquiry the merchants will put us in mind of it.

Sir R. Walpole desired he might be understood ; he did not
think, at least he did not know, that transcribing the papers called
for would require a fortnight, for they were not in his office, nor
cognisance, but he was told they were a great many ; but why
he insisted for a fortnight was that Armstrong might have sufficient
time to come. That he believed Armstrong sailed last Monday
for Dover, at least the public newspapers said so, which was as
good authority as Mr. D. Pulteney could have to suggest he is
still at Dover. Then, dropping some sharp thuigs against the
Administration in Queen Anne's reign, by which he meant to
reflect on Sir William W3ndham, as we supposed, Mr. Sands got
up, and said though he at that time thought with the minority, as
he does now, yet he would do justice even to an enemy, and there-
fore desired the journal of 13 Reg. Anne might be read to show what
was the sense of the majority at that time upon a motion relating
to Dunkirk. He thought the majority at that time, who were
the Tories, had made a strong address to the Queen to interpose
for the more effectual performance of the treaty in demolishing
Dunkirk, which Louis Fourteenth was slow in domg ; but Mr. Sands
in this overshot himself. Sir William Young, who remembered
that matter immediately, seconded him, and the journal was read,
whereby it appeared that when the motion was made by the Whigs
of that Parliament, who were the minority, for addressing the
Queen, the Ministry caused the previous question to be put whether
that motion should be put, and carried it in the negative. This
silenced Mr. Sands, and made Sir Robert Walpole triumph.

Mr. Caesar then got up to justify that Parliament, but Sir Edmond
Bacon appealed to the House whether ever anything was so
irregular as to bring in proceedings of former Parliaments, and that
the single point before us was what day to adjourn our enquiry to.

The Speaker then got up and said with great resentment it was
not to be borne ; that he sat there to keep the House to orderly
debating, and he never saw such liberties taken in flying from the
point before us. He desired gentlemen would confine themselves
as they ought to do.

Mr. Oglethorp said he should be for allowing the time desired,
but hoped nothing should intervene. He believed the enquiry
would end in an address to his Majesty, and hoped it would be in
the strongest terms.

Mr. Shippen then got up, and fell a talking in as irregular manner
as possible in so much that the Speaker was forced to get up again,
and in a great passion rebuked him personally, saying he would
by the grace of God oblige every gentleman to be orderly.

Sir Joseph Jekyl then rose, and highly commended the Speaker.
He yielded to the putting off our enquiry to the day desired.

Shippen then got up a second time, and endeavouring to explain
himself, fell again into the same error, so that the House was obliged
to silence him. He would have justified the Queen's Adminis-
tration, which was wholly foreign to our present debate.

Then Captain Vernon got up, and made a passionate speech for
immediate enquiry and against the time desired for adjournment.

44 DIARY or THE

Feb. 12-13
He brought in the Pope, the Devil, the Jesuits, the seamen, etc.
so that the House had not patience to attend to him, though he
was not taken down. He quite lost his temper, and made himself
hoarse again. I found it agreed that this debate should be put
off to this day fortnight, and so returned home to dinner.

In the evening I went to the Royal Society, and from thence
to visit Mr. Foster, whose lady I found at home.

Friday, 13 February. — This morning I visited my Lord Wil-
mington, who, among other things, told me Sir William Wyndham
conducted himself in relation to the motion about Dunkirk
with great art ; that sometime ago, after he had moved to con-
sider the state of the nation, he in\dted about thirty members
to dinner to deliberate what points they should fix to attack the
Ministry upon, but spoke not a word of Dunkirk, judging that some
who were present, might, though Tories, be tell-tales to Sir Robert
Walpole, and he was resolved to attack Sir Robert unprepared ;
by this means, he purposelj^ led Sir Robert to a wTong scent, whose
intelligence bringing him nothing touching Dunkirk, he neglected
to prepare himself against the surprise of that important motion,
highly pleased with the belief that he should be attacked on points
he was better able to defend. My Lord Wilmington had this
from Sir William W5nidham himself, who added that when the
company were broke up one gentleman remained alone with him
and proposed the enquiry about Dunkirk ; but Sir William
immediately suspecting it possible that he might be a secret spy
to Sir Robert, and that he had proposed this only to sound his
intention, told him that perhaps before the session was up Dunkirk
might be mentioned, but there were other important things to
enquire into first. I mentioned the irregularity of our debates,
and particularly entering into the merits of majorities and minorities
of former reigns and administrations, which lengthened our debates,
to no other purpose than to revive personal animosities, and entertain
the gallery, while it diverted us from the question before us, and
vilified the dignity of our proceedings. He said it was quite wrong
to mention majorities and minorities at all, for what is once carried
is the Act of the House, and that anciently when a question had
been carried upon a division, the minority were obliged to go out
by themselves to show their assent to what the majority had
earned against them, but this was not in use since he was in
Parliament. I afterwards went to the House, where Sir Robert
moved that part of one of the lotteries of the sinking fund might
be mortgaged to support the current service of the year. I met
Mr. Oglethorp, who informed me that he had found out a very
considerable charity, even fifteen thousand pounds, which lay in
trustees' hands, and was like to have been lost, because the heir of
the testator being one of the trustees, refused to concur with the
other two, in any methods for disposing the money, in hopes, as
they were seventy years old each of them, they would die soon,
and he should remain only surviving trustee, and then might apply
it all to his own use. That the two old men were very honest and
desirous to be discharged of their burthen, and had concurred
with him to get the money lodged in a Master of Chancery's hands
till new trustees should be appointed to dispose thereof in a way
that should be approved of by them in conjunction with the Lord
Chancellor. That the heir of the testator had opposed this, and

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 45

1729-30.

there had been a lawsuit thereupon, which Oglethorp had carried
against the heir, who appealed against the decree ; but my Lord
Chancellor had confiimed it, and it was a pleasure to him to have
been able in one year's time to be able at law to settle this affair.
That the trustees had consented to this on condition that the
trust should be annexed to some trusteeship already in being,
and that being informed that I was a trustee for Mr. Dalone's
legacy, who left about a thousand pounds to conve t negroes,
he had proposed me and my associates as proper persons to be
made trustees of this new affair ; that the old gentlemen approved
of us, and he hoped I would accept it in conjunction with himself,
and several of our Committee of Gaols, as Mr. Towers, Mr. Hughes,
Mr. Holland, Major Selwyn, and some other gentlemen of worth,
as Mr. Sloper and Mr. Vernon, Commissioner of the Excise. I
told him it was a pleasure to me to hear his great industry in
recovering and securing so great a charity, and to be joined with
gentlemen whose worth I knew so well ; that I had indeed been
thinking to quit the trusteeship of Dalone's legacy, because we
were but four, and two of them a\ ere rendered incapable of serving
and the third was a person I never saw. That when I accepted
the trusteeship it was in order to assist Dean Berkley's Bermuda
scheme, by erecting a Fellowship in his college for instructing
negroes ; that in so doing the charity would be rendered perpetual,
whereas to dribble it away in sums of five or ten pounds to
missioners in the plantations, the money would be lost without
any effect. He answered, experience had shown that religion will
not be propagated in the Indies by colleges, besides the Dean had
quitted the thoughts of Bermuda, to settle at Rhode Island, and
the Government would never give him the twenty thousand pounds
promised. I answered the Dean would go to Bermuda, or any-
where the Government should better like, if they would pay him
the money. He said, the best way for instructing the negroes
would be by finding out conscientious clergymen in the plantations,
who would do their endeavours that way without any reward,
and that the money might go in sending over religious books for
the negroes' use.

He then returned to the new trusteeship, and said that though
annexed to this of Dalone's, Dalone's legacy might be a matter
remaining distinct from the scheme he proposed for employing
the charity he had acquainted me \^1th, and that he designed the
new tiusteeship should be so dra^\^l that no trustee should be
answerable for the actions of the rest, but only for what he signed
to. That he had acquainted the Speaker, and some other con-
siderable persons, with his scheme, who approved it much, and
there remained only my Lord Chancellor's opinion to be known.
That he must tell me by the way, the old trustees of the fifteen
thousand pounds would as yet allow but five thousand pounds
to be under our management, which sum would answer the scheme ;
that the scheme is to procure a quantity of acres either from the
Government or by gift or purchase in the West Indies, and to
plant thereon a hundred miserable wretches who being let out of
gaol by the last year's Act, are now starving about the town for
want of employment ; that they should be settled all together by
way of colony, and be subject to subordinate rulers, who should
inspect their behaviour and labour under one chief head ; that in

46 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 13-15
time they with their families would increase so fast as to become
a security and defence of our possessions against the French and
Indians of those parts ; that they should be employed in cultivating
flax and hemp, which being allowed to make into yam, would be
returned to England and Ireland, and greatly promote our manu-
factures. All which I approved. He then talked to me of
restoring the Committee of Gaols, and said it was necessary for
our reputations, being vilified in the world for proceeding so
zealously last year, that the same oppressions continue, and the
judges had acted strangely in commanding Gambler, the new
Warden of the Fleet, to restore the dungeon there, which Gambler
had of his own accord pulled down ; that there are several prisons
remaining to visit, for which Ave had not time last year, and that
we have not brought in a bill for regulating all the gaols of England,
as we were directed by the House last year. I was not very willing
to revive the Committee, because I knew the ill will the Administra-
tion bore it, and the weight of the judges and Court would be
against us ; besides, I told him we had already made two good
Acts, which had removed abundance of grievances, and let out an
infinite number of miserable persons. That it was strange to me
that the same oppressions should be continued so when we so
lately had taken cognisance of them. That, for my own particular,
my health, which j^earlj^ grew worse, did not permit me to do
my duty with the zeal I could wish, and I must leave it to younger
men. That if grievances continued on the prisoners, they would
probablj^ grow worse a year or two hence, and then the House
would see more reason for reviving the Committee than perhaps
they now will ovm. ; that it is not necessary to revive the Committee
for the sake of a new Bill, for we are maste- s of all the oppressions
used over the prisoners, and may frame a Bill to prevent all
remaining abuses upon the knowledge we have already. However,
I did not actually reject the design. Mr. Hughes, who was by,
said there was great occasion to revive the Committee, to keep
the judges in order, who had behaved strangeh^ and used us
contemptuously. He showed me a letter that dropped out of
Bambridge's pocket, and was endorsed by him, wherein he dis-
covered some apprehension of being tried over again, and desired
advice how witnesses in such case might be bought off, and men-
tioned Sir G. O. [i.e. Sir George Oxendon] as a friend that would be
useful to him in case of a new trial. Mr. Hughes added he could
tell me something that would make me stare, and reached even to the
judges. I did not encourage him to impart it to me, knowing
his waimth against the judges, and great freeness in these affairs,
but left that to another opportunity^ However, I commended
his zeal, and that deservedly, for he seemed a verj^ honest and
conscientious man, though afterwards he appeared to be neither.
I went from Parliament to Court, where it was confirmed that
the Czar is dead, and Sir Charles Hotham, who goes Ambassador
to Berlin in Sutton's place, said the Duchess of Courland was
proclaimed Empress of Moscovy.

My brother Dering and Dr. Couraye dined with me. In the
evening I went to our vocal club, where Mr. Green's " Te Deum "
and other of his works were performed, and they show him to
be a great composer, and to tread in the steps of the Italian
masters.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL 47

1729-30.

Saturday, 14 February. — This day I visited my Lord Gran-
tham, who gave me new assurances that PhiUpson should be
out ; he repeated that Sir Robert Walpole had peremptorily
promised it, and told him he was from the beginning of opinion
he ought not to have been kept in, but he could not do it
last year : there was a person who would not let it be. I gathered
by the discourse that he meant my Lord Townsend. I said I
believed Sir Robert in earnest, and that it will be done, but it
comes with an ill grace, and the Italians have a proverb, Chi fa
jyresto fa be7ie. I did not quote the Latin maxim, Bis dat qui cito
dat, for fear his Lordship should not understand it I said the
Government's interest was promised me at my election, and indeed
I had it, but when ? Not till the day before the election, and so I
supposed Mr. Carteret would use me in the same manner now.
Philipson shall be out, but not till the last moment that he can
keep that man in ; that is, till the session is over. My Lord replied,
Mr. Carteret's reign would not be long, but there could no changes
be till the session is over. I replied, if it was not done before,
I had little heart to expect it, for the Court would be gone to
Richmond, Sir Robert into Norfolk, and I perhaps to Bath, and
there was no need to wait for other changes, for this post was not
fit for a Parliament man, and required as little ceremony as to
turn out a penny postman. He replied, it would take perhaps
some time to find a proper man to fill his place. I answered the
Post Office would not be at a loss to find a man ; and what would
they do suppose Philipson should die of an apoplexy ? My Lord
replied, I spoke rightly, and he would not let Sir Robert rest till
it was done, and would so make this his own affair that he would
resent it if vSir Robert was not sincere. His Lordship then talked
of the motion about Dunkirk, which gave me occasion to tell him
that the repair of that harbour is a serious thing, and a direct
breach of treaty ; that now the House have taken notice
of it, we cannot in honour but proceed, and that I believed it would
end in addressing the King to renew his instances by strong
representations to the Court of France on this head ; that I was
sure his Majesty, for his oavtl honour and interest, and to pleasure
his subjects, was in mind against that infraction, and I believed
would be pleased that his Parliament should strengthen by their
weight the efforts he should make to retrieve that affair. I said this,
because I knew he talks everything to their Majesties, and I was
willing he should therefore Imow the sentiments of such as me,
who are attached to the family, and yet judge this affair to be no
trifling matter. On the same account I also told him how ill I
liked the masquerades ; I thought them designed only to carry on
intrigues, and that an honest man should never disguise himself
and vizard his face. After dinner I went to the play.

Sunday, 15 February. — Prayers and sermon at home. Then
went to Court. Dr. Couraye and brother Dering dined with me.
Went in the evening to the King's Chapel, and called in at the
coffee house ; found there Mr. Sloper, who discoursed with me
on several matters relating to Ireland and England, as the advantage
it would be to the latter to repeal the prohibition of Irish cattle
whereby provision would become cheaper, and wages to manu-
facturers lower, without which nothing could recover our
manufactures. He asked my opinion if supposing the afore-

48 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 15-16
mentioned Act of prohibition were repealed, Ireland would send
their cattle over ; I answered, the grazing lands of Ireland are divided
into breeding lands and fatting ; that some farms are only proper
to one of these ; that the tenants who only breed will be pleased
to see a new door open to their profit, by which if they cannot
get a good price from the tenant who buys his cattle to fat, they
may sell them into England ; but for that reason the farmers who
fat will be displeased That the merchant who now is in possession
of the whole manufacture of beef will cry out against such a repeal,
for his trade will be quite lost of slaughtering, salting, barrelling
up and exporting to the Plantations, at least it will be considerably
impaired ; for the tenant who fats will be obliged to give more
for his lean cattle than he did before, otherwise the breeder will
sell them to England, consequently the merchant must give more
to the fatter, and of course demand a higher price for his manu-
factured beef, which cannot but be a prejudice to the whole nation,
inasmuch as less manufactured beef will go out of the kingdom,
and the return upon the trade, which is the riches of any kingdom,
be less. That all Ireland except the Northern province, will
suffer by it, and the city of Cork particularly, for many merchants
will leave it, and others quit their business, not to mention the
numbers of people who depend on this trade, as butchers and
slaughterers, hoopers, masters of vessels, carpenters, salters, etc.,
who for want of employment must quit the country, or starve for
want of employment. That it is visible by this means the kingdom
will sink, and grow thinner of useful subjects, and of Protestants,
whose loss we cannot spare, and all this in the end must sink the
rents of lands. That this must extremely hurt England too,
because 'tis \"isible the riches of Ireland before the twelvemonth
is out, centres in England, which constantly drains Ireland of all
the money it gets. He allowed all this.

We then talked of the Woollen Act, and he said the English
are come to such a sense of their mistake in prohibiting the manu-
facture of wool in Ireland, that several substantial manufacturers
of cloth had expressed to him their sorrow for that Act ; that
they were sensible France never had set up the woollen manu-
facture, nor would be able to carry it on, but for the Irish workmen
who settled at Abbeville and in other parts of France upon the
putting down the manufacture of Ireland, and they are of opinion
nothing can retrieve the manufacture of England but letting
Ireland return to the makuig, and freely exporting, their cloths,
by which means we should be able to undersell the French in other
countries, and ruin this branch of their trade, which done, England
would find the benefit.

I said they reasoned very justly , for the manufacture of Abbeville
was set up the very year after ours was ruined, and that by the
Irish weavers who were obliged to leave their country for want
of business. That till we have a better encouragement for sending
our wool to England, the Irish will certainly furnish France with
wool by running it thither though a hundred ships were employed
to prevent it, because they are under a necessity to do it or starve,
there being a duty of nineteen pence farthing per stone laid upon
all that comes from Ireland to England, which is near twenty per
cent, of the price a stone of wool is sold for in Ireland. That the
saving this duty on all that is lun to France is what enables the

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL 49

1729-30.

tenant to pay his rent, but if the bringing their wool to England
had a proper encouragement, the Irish would certainly prefer
sending it hither to the supplying France at the hazard of losing
ship and cargo, the perjury that attends it, and the visible mischief
that practice is to our mother country We then fell to talking
of the administration of affairs, and he said he suspected that the
Ministry had allowed of some secret article w^hereby the French
are permitted to restore Dunkirk harbour. Said we are got into
mire, and must get out as well and as soon as w^e can. That from
the day he saw the Hanover Treaty signed, he foretold all the
mischief that has followed, for it thiew us into an alliance with
a greater power than ourselves, that consequently we are dependent
on France, and that experience and history has shown how fatal
it is to any state to be allied to one greater than itself, for it creates
a dependence and subjection. Moreover, that France has always
taken advantage of such alliances, to the prejudice of their allies.
That we should patch up matters the best we can at present, and
afterwards enquire w^ho brought us into this condition. As to
Dunkirk, he said we should doubtless address the King in strong
terms to renew vigorous instances for the stopping the reparations
there making. I told him I supposed we should do so, and the
King would comply with us, that the French Court will answer
they know nothing of it, but will give orders to stop anything
that is doing, when at the same time they have already done almost
all they intended.

Monday, 16 February. — I stayed all this day at home,
except that in the evening I called on Cousin le Grand, and went to
the coffee house. I met at this last place IVIr. Spelman, who has
passed most of his life from a child in Moscovy. He said the new
declared Empress of Moscovy, Duchess Dow^ager of Courland, is
about thirty-seven years old, fat and not disposed to have children,
she being but nineteen when married to the deceased Duke of
Courland, who lived tw^o months with her, but left no child ; that
she has besides a sickly air. That probably the Senate will think
of procuring her a husband, and one among themselves, but that
there is no great choice ; that there are but three great families
for her to marry into, of which the Nariskin, w^hich Princes are
of the blood Royal, will probably be chosen. That this lady,
being daughter to the elder brother of Peter the Great, and not
the eldest neither, and Peter having left children, it is not improbable
but that the apprehension of civil disturbances will induce the
Court of Moscovy to cultivate the friendship of all the Princes of
Europe capable of hurting the present election, and particularly of
Great Britain, and if so the late Czar's death, who was nephew
to the present Emperor of Germany, will have a great influence
over him to accede to the Peace of Seville.

I met at the coffee house Sir Robert Clifton, who was just come
from a meeting of thirty Parliament men, who dined together,
and unanimously agreed to move to-morrow for reviving the
Committee of Gaols. Mr. Oglethorp hinted to them some dis-
coveries he had made of great consequence, and which might
effect great persons (meaning the judges, I suppose), and told
them that the prisoners for debt lie under the same inconveniences
and ill-usage as before the Acts which passed last year for their
relief. He said a great many new persons were there, who were not

Wt. 24408, j: 4

50 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 16-18
of the last year*s Committee, as Sloper, Sir Robert Sutton,
Lord Tyrcomiell, Mr. Heathcote, etc., and that they intend to
examine into the conduct of the judges with respect to the
admission of attorneys. He desired I would be at the House
and meet them to-morrow early there, and at my return home
I found Mr. Cornwall had called on me to desire the same. Thus I
am drawn in to be again of the Committee if revived, and seeing
I am desired, I shall consent to it, though it will engage me much
trouble, and the more, that I apprehend they will proceed to call
the judges to account, which will draw upon our backs the power
of the Ministry, who will certainly protect them. It was opened
to the gentlemen abovementioned, that it mil be proved public
money was given to support the gaolers we prosecuted. I learned
when I came home, that there had been a warm debate this
morning in the House upon a motion of Mr. Sands for leave to
bring in a Bill against pensioners sitting there. The arguments
on each side for and against I have not learned, but it seems
Sir Robert Walpole, Horace Walpole, Pelham, Sir W. Strickland,
Winnington, and others of the Court side were violently against
it, but that on the division it was carried by the anti-courtiers
in favour of the motion by ten, one hundred and forty-four against
one hundred and thirty-four, to the great mortification of Sir Robert,
who it is probable may date his fall from this day. Above sixty
persons who were used to vote with the Court deserted Sir Robert
on this occasion, some by voting for the motion, others by leaving
the House, among which last were Sir Robert Sutton, Sir Edward
Knatchbull, etc. This is the more remarkable in that there were
not seventy Tories in the House.

I think it was to-day that the trial between my Lord Abergavenny,
prosecutor, and Mr. Lyddall, defendant, was judged, and the jury
brought in ten thousand pounds damages aganist Mr. Lyddall
for criminal conversation with my Lord's wife, who lately died of
grief and shame for the discovery. A great many blame my
Lord for prosecuting the gentleman, since his lady died for that
fact.

Tuesday, 17 February. — To-day Mr. Oglethorp moved for reviving
the Gaol Committees, and my Lord Tyrconnell seconded him.
I saw the House very full, for now there is expected every day
some surprise or other on each side. I thought the friends of
Sir Robert hung down their heads since yesterday's division against
them, and I am sure the eyes of the anti-ministerians sparkled ;
they did nothing but congratulate each other as they met, many
blamed Sir Robert for dividing the House, but some more cunning
believe he was under a necessity of trying to stop the motion in
the Lower House, lest if a Bill should be carried up to the House of
Lords, my Lord Townshend, who is still at variance with him,
should suffer it to pass the Lords, or if my Lord should stop it
there, he might show his Majesty that he had superior ability and
merit to Sir Robert, since Sir Robert could not hinder a Bill in one
House which himself was able to hinder in another. While I was
in the House, Sir Robert came and sat by me to tell me that yester-
day he had spoke to the King, and received his orders to turn
him out ; he said he had done it before, but he was not able ;
that a great many things were laid to his charge that he was not to
blame in, and that he could not do everything expected of him.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 51

1729-30.

I told him I was obliged to him for the ease he gave me in my
borough ; that for the King's sake it were to be wished this had
been sooner done. He asked me if I would recommend anyone
to his place. I answered " No," but I hoped it would be a friend
that succeeded ; he replied he thought of one Sansom, who was once
in the Customs House, and has no relation to Harwich, and whose
father had been a Commissioner of the Customs. I said it was very
well, if he gave us no trouble ; he said he would not. He added
he had already acquainted Mr. Carteret with it, and wanted to
speak to Mr. Harrison. He asked me if there was anything else
I would have done. I answered I did not know, but my brother
Parker might desire to recommend a clerk to Mr. Sansom ; he
desired his name, and it should be done. He then desired me to
dine with him to-morrow, and to speak to Sir Philip Parker and
Mr. East, which I promised.

When I came home to dinner I writ the purport of our discourse
to my brother, who came soon after, and declined dining with
Sir Robert, but desired me to make a handsome excuse ; he said
he would send to Mr. East, who he believed would decline too.

My Cousin Fortrey dined with me.

The accounts from Prussia say that the King has exceedingly
disobliged his army by the cruel example made upon some of his
tall Grenadiers, who having conspired to desert, and being dis-
covered, he punished by causing four of the ringleaders to be broke
on the wheel, after pinching their flesh off with hot irons, a death
far exceeding what desertion merited, and what the French thought
severe enough for the murderer of their Kang Henry the Fourth.

Wednesday, 18 February. — I this morning visited my
brother Parker and cousin Southwell, and afterwards went
to the House, where upon a division we rejected the petition against
the hawkers and pedlars, one hundred and sixty -nine against
one hundred and forty-four. Then the petition of the African
Company was preferred by their Governor, Sir Robert Sutton,
and backed by Hughes, Sir William Sanderson, Colonel Bladen,
Sir Charles Wager, Sir William Young, Mr. Danvers and others.
It was opposed by Barnard, Scroop, Daniel Pulteney, Sir Abraham
Elton, Earl, Winnington, and others. The arguments for receiving
the petition and referring it to a Committee were, that it was a
matter deserved consideration, for if they are not able to support
their forts and settlements, and England will not give money
towards it, those forts must fall into the hands of a neighbouring
State, Holland, France or Portugal ; that if we lose our property
there, we shall lose the African trade, which is the most valuable
one we have ; that if another nation should possess themselves
of the forts we shall abandon, we must enter into a war to regain
them, which would cost us a hundred times more than a little
money, suppose twenty thousand pounds a year, to secure them.

The arguments against receiving the petition were that this
is only a job to flurry up the actions of the African Company, that
some may sell out, and draw other unwary persons to buy, which
may be the ruin of many families. That the Company had broke
more than once, and are now not worth a shilling ; that there
is no need of any forts at all there ; those that are, are but only
wooden ones, and therefore of no defence against an enemy if
attacked, without the help of our men-of-war, and therefore our

62 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 18-19
fleets will be sufficient security for our trade. That this trade is at
present, that the separate traders have no burthen upon them, in
an exceeding flourishing way, but to restore the company to vigour
is to put them in a power to be hard upon the separate traders.
That all demands of public money ought to come from the Crown,
or to have its consent, which method had not been followed.
Several other plausible things were said on both sides the question.
At length, upon Sir William Young's motion, the question was put
for rejecting the petition, which, he said, when over, he would
move for a day to consider this part of our trade. There was a
division against rejecting, some thinking it too severe usage of a
Royal Company, and that it had been better to lay the petition
on the table ; but the majority were apprehensive such a
countenance given it would cause a rise in the African Stock and
render it a bubble to the deceiving unwary people, who would
imagine the House intended to favour the Company, when they do
not, and buy to their detriment. Those who went out for rejecting
were one hundred and thirty -four, we who stayed in were ninety.

After this I went by invitation to Sir Robert Walpole's to dinner,

where were my Lady Malpas, his daughter, and two other ladies,

and Lord Palmerston, Sir John Shelley, Sir Edward Knatchbull

and Mr. Buttler. After dinner we fell to talking of Dunkirk, and

I freely declared my opinion, that to address the King in becoming

terms would be fit, as it would add weight to the representation

the King should think to make to the Court of France against

the repairs that have been making at Dunkirk. I said that this

was my opinion, supposing it made out that the French have

done anything contrary to the treaty. Sir Robert said nobody

would be against addressing, but would differ about the manner ;

that there were some in the House, and those the leaders against

the Court, who were for breaking the Peace, and flinging us into

a war with France ; that these would be for using such harsh

terms as would exasperate France, and that only mild expressions

should be used. I said that I beheved there were such men as

he described in the House, but all were not so ; that for my own

particular, I did not like those men, and was so heartily pleased

with the Peace that I would not be for doing anything to break

it, but that the repairing Dunkirk after the manner related at the

bar, w^as a breach of the Treaty of Utrecht, and w^e could not in

honour, and for the kingdom's sake, but take notice of it, and I

thought the stronger we expressed ourselves the better, because

I beheved it would have the better effect with the Court of France.

Sir Robert said, supposing the French have done what they should

not, we ought to consider the consequence that resenting it too

far it might have, that a thing considered singly might deserve

much to be blamed, but if a greater hurt may come from resenting,

than there can come a good, then in prudence men ought to tolerate

the matter. As to the witnesses, he said, five of the seven w^ere

under prosecution for smuggling and one of them he knew had not

been there eighteen months at Dunkirk. Lord Palmerston said

he knew Manoury and another to be great rogues. Both he and

Sir Edward Knatchbull, together with Lord Malpas, spoke much

on Sir Robert Walpole's side. Sir John Shelley and ]\lr. Buttler

were silent, and I was the only one left to dispute this affair.

After dinner I returned directly home.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 53

1729-30.

Thursday, 19 February. — To-day I went early to the House
to meet the Gaol Comroittee, where we agreed to go on
Saturday morning to visit the King's Bench prison. In the House,
Sir Robert Walpole brought in a large bundle of papers, being
copies and extracts of papers relating to Dunkirk. He told us
that there was all that had passed on that occasion for two years
past, and that the rest addressed for were copying out as fast as
possible, but he brought these first that the House might see all the
diligence that could be has been used to comply with their desires ;
that at the same time he must acquaint them the rest that are to
follow are very voluminous, and might not perhaps answer thorough
expectation, because some were not to be found. Hereupon
Daniel Pulteney rose up and said he was sorry to hear that any
papers should be missing that had been addressed for, for possibly
some of them might be very necessary for their information, and
that it looked as if the Administration were ^villing they should
not be found ; that he observed there were several extracts of
letters from and to Lord Townshend, Mr. French, IVIr. Walpole,
Colonel Armstrong, and others, but not the answers to any memorial
sent to the Court of France from ours.

Mr. William Pulteney said he was surprised the copies of papers
were only sent us, and not the originals ; that copies might be
partially made, and he was not contented with extracts ; that on
former occasions original papers were sent, as in the case of the
Bishop of Rochester's prosecution ; that he observed some very
material pieces were wanting, that without the originals the House
could not proceed to censure the Administration, if they have
been faulty, and at this rate no grievances can ever be redressed
for by the law the King can do no wrong, but the Ministers are
accountable, and if there is no coming at Ministers, as there is not
unless originals are laid before the House, then farewell our
Constitution.

Sir Robert Walpole said as long as he has been in Parliament
he never knew originals given, that to require them now was a
reflection on the Ministry, as if they meant to deceive the House,
that as no man could in his private judgment expect they should
be given, this was only mentioned to possess the town with an
opinion that the Ministry were afraid to have their transactions
Imown, and to raise a popular clamour, which has been a constant
practice of late time, without reason or foundation, and especially
in this important point of Dunkirk, which he desired might be
thoroughly scanned, because he knew the Ministry could w^ell
defend themselves on that article, having done their duty to the
utmost, as the House would find if they had patience to the end
of the enquiry. They would then find matters come out in a very
different light from what the evidence at the bar had given, whom
for credit and integrity he should not put in competition with the
information Colonel Armstrong and Colonel Lassels would impart,
the rather that some of those evidences Avere runners of goods,
and had been under prosecution of the Crown for the value of
ten thousand pounds. That to suspect the truth and fairness of
the copies given in, was to cast reflection on himself, who brought
them in, but he took it on his honour that for the time these papers
now given comprehend there is nothing disguised or omitted ;
that Colonel Armstrong's letters are copied entire, and that for

54 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 19-23

those originals out of which extracts have only been taken, it was
unreasonable to demand a sight of them, or entire copies of them,
because they contained other matters than what relate to Dunkirk,
which have not been addressed for, or if they had would not have
been imparted to the House, as containing matters of State. That
to demand any papers that include transactions before the treaty
for demolishing Ihinkirk is unreasonable, and all our business
is to enquire what was stipulated on both sides, and how the treaty
has been observed on the French side ; that he was no ways
accountable for the papers that are or shall be given in, or that
are missing, it being an affair that belongs not to his office, but
that of the Secretary of State, in which there have several presided,
who at their pleasure when they left the office took away with them
what papers they thought fit, which being before this enquiry was
thought of, it should not be imputed to him or to the present
Administration as a fault or artifice that some papers are missing.
He wished gentlemen would treat one another with more candour.
Mr. Bromley then said he had once the honour to be Secretary of
State, and it was certainly true that Secretaries of State do take
such papers away with them as the King does not think fit to
give a discharge for, though he did not himself stand upon it
when he went out of office, but surrendered them all. He did
not beheve gentlemen would insist upon having the originals of
those papers, from which extracts were only taken, but he did not
see the inconveniences in communicating the origiaals of Armstrong's
letters, and those to him.

Mr. Horace Walpole spoke against that, urging the reasons
that had been used by Sir Robert. Nevertheless Mr. Sands made
the motion for those originals, and it had come to a division but for
Mr. Gibbons, who said as it was unparhamentary and therefore
must have an air of reflection on Sir Robert, he was obliged to
desire if the motion were not withdrawn, that the previous question
should be put, that he did not speak to discourage the enquiry
but he was as far from casting an odium on a Minister without
^ust cause as he would be from accusing the meanest servant.
But to come to such a motion before the House had read any
of those papers to know if anything was wilfully kept back was
not a right thing. So Mr. Pulteney declaring he acquiesced, we
were freed from the trouble of a division.

Mr. Glanville moved for a Bill to try civil actions finally at the
Assizes, urgLQg the inconveniences of prolonging suits by bringing
them up to Westminster, and the opportimities given to rascally
attorneys to eat up the substance of poor men. He showed the
kingdom of Ireland had been so wise as to pass such a law as far
as actions under ten pounds, and had found it so useful that they
extended it by subsequent law to 201.

Mr. Thomas Windham seconded him in a studied and long
speech, wherein he inveighed against the practices of the law,
and said many things foreign to the Bill. He mentioned the
abuses committed by attorneys, and their too great credit with
the judges, and gave an instance of one who demanded to be paid
a bill immediately, without giving the client time to examine it,
and advise whether it should be taxed, being exorbitant, that
the attorney said it was his due, and it should not be taxed, for he
had acquainted the man with his demand by a letter he writ him.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 55

1729-30.

The client applied to a Lord Chief Justice what he ought to do
who replied that since the attorney had writ to him for the money,
the letter gave him a title to it, and he must pay it. Others spoke
for the motion, none against it, and so leave was given to bring
in a Bill accordingly.

Friday, 20 February. — I went to see Mr. Tayler and Parson Gore
who were at home ; then to the Prince's levee. Afterwards to
the House, where I found Sir Robert Walpole and Horace in great
joy at the news which arrived this morning from France : that
the French King, upon a late representation from our Court, had
ordered a ship to go to Dunkirk and acquaint the inhabitants
that all the reparations made there contrary to the Treaty of
Utrecht for demolishing that port, and contrary to the Triple
Alliance, must be demolished, and our Court is desired to send
proper persons to see that the same be effectually done. The
House went on no business of importance, because the King went
to Parliament to pass the Land Tax Bill ; in the meantime I went
to the Queen's Court, who spoke again favourably to me of
Dr. Couraye.

In the evening I had my concert, which will be continued every
other week, as last winter. Those who came to hear it were
Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Man, Lord Lusam, Mr. Vultur Cornwall,
Colonel Blathwayt, Lady Lusam, Lady Mary Finch, Mrs. Nicholas,
brother Percival's family, Mrs. Forster, Lady Delorain, Lady Bingly
and her daughter, Dr. Couraye, cousin Fortrey, etc.

Saturday, 2L — To-day Mr. Cornwall called on me early in the
morning, and we went to the King's Bench in Southwark for the
first time, to meet the rest of our Committee, and visit this gaol.
We began by seeing the apartments of the Master, and common
side, and then examined Mullin, the keeper, as to the property
of the gaol. We were twenty-one in all that met, viz. :

Mr. Oglethorp (Chairman), Lord Tyrconnell, Lord Limerick,
Lord Percival, Sir Robert Clifton, Mr. Huxley, Sir Francis
Drake, Sir Thomas Aston, Mr. Page, Mr. Henry Peirse,
Mr. Samuel Ongley, Sir Abraham Elton, Mr. Masters,
Captain Eyles, Captain Vernon, Major Selwyn, Mr. Thomas
Lewis, Mr. Moore, Mr. Glanville, Mr. Hucks, junior,
Mr. Vultur Cornwall.
Eleven of us dined at Pontach's. In the evening I returned
straight home.

Sunday, 22. — ^I went this morning to the Sacrament at the
King's Chapel, and carried the Sword. The Prince discoursed me
much about the Committee of Gaols, my Harwich affairs, my brother
Parker, and brother Dering. Dr. Couraye, brother and sister
Dering, and cousin Fortrey dined with me. In the evening went
to chapel.

Monday, 23 February. — I went at nine o'clock to the King's
Bench prison, where met Mr. Oglethorp, Sir Thomas Aston,
Sir Francis Drake, Sir Abraham Elton, Mr. Hucks, Mr. Lewis,
Mr. Glanville, Mr. Brooksbank, Major Selwyn, and Mr. Pierse ;
we proceeded in our enquiry. Afterwards I went to the House to
attend Dr. Warren, my parish minister of Charlton's, Bill for
settling a maintenance for him in his church of Stratford, Bow,
which was ordered to be engrossed. Dined and passed the evening
at home.

66 tolARY O^ THI:

Feb. 23-24
In the House, Mr. Scroop, Secretary to the Treasury, came up
to me and showed me his Majesty's sign manual to the Attorney
General to grant a 7ioli prosequi in favour of Edward Russet, who
has lain three years a prisoner for running goods. He told me
Sir Robert Walpole had obtained it of the King yesterday morning,
and that Sir Robert expressed himself surprised that the man
was not let out two years ago ; that he (Mr. Scroop) had answered
that he wondered at it too, but the Commissioners of the Customs
had made many difficulties, and sometimes there was an
unaccountable fataUty. I smiled, but thanked Mr. Scroop for his
trouble, and added I wished he would tell me what was next to be
done. He rephed he would take care of the thing and make it
as easy as he could, because the man was poor. Yes, said I, so
poor that he begs at the prison gate ; but I am not surprised
the Commissioners should make difficulties, for there are some there
are my brother Parker's enemies and mine ; the others among them
are our friends, and men of honour. He then asked me how our
Harwich affairs went ; I told him the King had been so gracious
as to enquire the character of Phihpson, and order him to be turned
out ; that the man had used us very ill, in starving our friends there,
and putting me to nine hmidred pounds expense for my election,
when it need not cost me nine shilhngs. He said Sir Robert had
told him that he had spoke to Harrison the Bang's pleasure. I
asked him what Harrison answered to it ; he said that Harrison
rephed it was a hard thing to turn a man out. But, said Scroop,
if your Lordship meets with any difficulty in Harwich, let me know
it. I thanked him, and told him Sir Robert had informed me
that one Sansom was to succeed Philipson ; that he had also
offered me to name any other person I might like better ; that my
answer was I would not put a man upon the Government in a post
of that importance, but only hoped liimself would name one that
would be a friend ; that his answer was it should be so. Thus I
found the majority of ten by which the Pension Bill was carried
against the Court, and my brother Parker voting for it, together
Avith a just suspicion that in the affair of Dunkirk we both "wish
Mr. Earl should vote for addressing the King in strong terms to
remonstrate for redressing the breach of the Treaty of Utrecht in
suffering the works there to be repaired, has cast the Ministry into
so great apprehensions of their friends deserting them, that they
think it necessary to use us in a more decent manner than before.

At night Mr. Horace Walpole came to see me. We talked nothing
about Harwich, but a good deal about Dunkirk. He said when
he heard, November, 1728, what works were carrying on there,
he represented it to Cardinal Fleury without making a noise of it,
and that the Cardinal very sincerely procured the King's orders
for enquiring into it, and assured him that everything done there
should be amended, even to a scrupulous and the nicest regard
to the Utrecht Treaty, which should be punctually observed, and
that the King's orders were accordingly given in the most particular
manner ; that all officers were enjoined to assist in ruining what
repairs had been made by the town, which were all without the
Government's knowiedge. That the Dutch Ambassador thought
what had been done so triffing, he refused to apply in concert with
Mr. Walpole. That the dam at the head of the canal of Fumes
was indeed broke the very year after the treaty to let water into

ITRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 67

1729-30.

Dunkirk for the health and conveniences of the inhabitants, and
overlooked by us as a reasonable thing, though strictly not allow-
able by the treaty of demolition, but that while the great Batterdean
remained entire that separated the harbour from the canal, the
canal nor harbour were of use. That some years after, a violent
storm had forced a break into the Batterdean, by which a small
current passed out of the harbour into the canal ; but this was of
so little service to the inhabitants, with respect to their sliipping,
it only served to give way to fishing craft to come up, and the
inhabitants neglected for seven years to restore any of the works,
as despairing to make any further advantage of that current.
That then they bethought themselves of their own head, but without
direction from the Court of France, to repair the jetties in order to
render the canal more commodious for larger sliips, which occasioned
Mr. Walpole's laying it before the Cardinal, and produced the
King's directions abovementioned. That this being in November,
and mnter coming on, nothing could be done, and when last summer
came on, himself and the Court of France, hearing no more of the
matter, did believe the repairs were demolished, till the evidence
given in the other day at the bar of the House. That not one ship
captain had complained to our Government about it, and that
Armstrong and Lassells were of opinion that as long as the jetties
were not restored, and no fortifications rebuilt, we could have no
prejudice from a quay that is said to be built there, and beacons
set up to guide their ships in. That by their information the canal
is at low water but eight foot deep, and at spring tides but thirteen.
We then talked of the disposition of the Parliament, which he
said tended to throw all into confusion, and he believed would
succeed. I answered, the leaders who oppose the Government
have, I believed, such intentions, but not the multitude, as he
might see by that party's not venturing to put several of their
motions to the question, knowing they should be deserted in points
that were wrong.

Tuesday, 24 February. — To-day I visited Mr. Francis Clerk, and
then went to the House, where our Committee of Gaols met, and
as far as we yet find, Mullyn, the gaoler of the King's Bench, has
acted well ; that being over, we went down into the House, where
Sir Robert Walpole gave in some more papers relating to Dunkirk,
which occasioned some speeches between him and Horace Walpole
on one side, and Mr. Daniel Pulteney on the other. The latter
observed that Mr. Walpole had not given into the Court of France
any representation against the repairs lately carried on at Dunkirk,
and Mi. Walpole said that when nations are in strict amity with
each other, the mildest methods are taken to reconcile differences ;
that when he knew of the repairs making he had a conference with
Cardinal Fleury upon it, who gave directions to enquire the truth
of the complaint. That this is a necessary proceeding, and that
representations are not made with friends till those grievances
are not redressed upon the application made. That when an
answer is made to a verbal complaint, and such answer is in
writing, it is called an answer to a memorial or representation,
which may lead gentlemen to think a memorial was given in,
whereas it is an answer to a verbal conference only.

After this, the Bill against lending money to foreign Princes
except by leave of the King, was read, at Sir Robert Walpole's

68 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 24

motion, for the first time, which being over, he moved for com-
mitting it.

Mr, Daniel Pulteney got up and opposed it, as a discouragement
to trade ; an inquisition by obliging men to purge themselves upon
oath that they have lent no money to foreign Princes ; a needless
thing, because if there be a war, it is high treason of course to
abet our enemies ; an imprudent thing, because if we don't lend
the Dutch will, as they did to the Spaniard, though in the infancy
of the RepubUc, when fighting for their hberty and religion.
Sir Robert Walpole replied that there was nothing that discouraged
trade, for an application of any merchant to the Government, and
satisfying it that he was not sustaining a nation at enmity with
us, he would have leave to send his money and effects abroad,
as before the Act. That it was no inquisition to make men purge
themselves by oath ; it was done in the time of the Ostend Company,
it was done by the South Sea directors, and it was done in the
time of the plague. That it is not imprudent to pass this Bill,
for suppose the Dutch should lend the Emperor against whom
this Bill is calculated, that is no reason we should do so too. The
Emperor is now so poor, he cannot go into a war without borrowing
money of us or Holland, and if both States should lend him, he
would be the more able to contend with us. That he had the King's
leave to acquaint the House that the Emperor is now actually
procuring by temptation of giving a high interest a subscription
in England to advance him four hundred thousand pounds ; that
when an immediate mischief is in view it is prudence to obviate
it at any rate. That this Bill will destroy that subscription, and
in all probability prevent a war. That numbers of subjects may be
preserved from ruin in passing this Bill, for they may unwarily be
engaged in the subscription before mentioned, now that there is
no formal war between the Emperor and us, and engage themselves
to make him quarterly payments, when of a sudden a war may
be declared, and then they will be guilty of high treason if they
perform their engagements, or by not performing them, lose the
payments they already have made.

Mr. Wortly Mountague replied that he was sorry to hear the
King's name made use of to influence our debates, and appealed
to the House if it was orderly ; he said the way used to
be by a message from the King, when he would communicate
anything to his Parliament ; that according to the Bill it
was put into the King's power to restrain all the trade of the
kingdom, for no particular Prince is mentioned to whom
money or goods may not be lent, but it is left general, so
that the King may name all the States in Europe ; he observed
besides that the Bill is made without limitation of time. Mr.
Goddard, a merchant, said he was for the Bill, because he
knew of forty thousand pounds already subscribed by some
Jews for the Emperor's service, and that the Bill will discourage
the carrying it on.

Mr. Plummer said he was against the Bill, because it was left
in the King's power by proclamation to hinder money or effects
going abroad at his pleasure ; that it was too great a trust to put
in the Crown ; that he was as much as anyone for not assisting the
Emperor, while at enmity, with money, and therefore he did not
speak against the bill itself, but the manner of drawing, and he

tIRST VISCOUKT PERCIVAL. 69

1729-30.

should like it better if the subject were restrained by an Act of

Parliament, and the time limited.

Sir Robert Walpole replied, these were arguments proper to be
urged when the Bill is committed, and then the House might alter
it as they thought good ; that whether the subject be restrained
by the King's proclamation, or by an Act of Parliament was equal
to him, provided the Emperor be not assisted, which is all he aimed
at.

Secretary Pelham spoke to the same purpose. Mr. Barnard
said the liberty of the subject would always be dearer to him
than the obviating any particular mischief, and therefore he had
rather the Emperor borrowed money of us though in actual war,
when it would be high treason in such as were discovered to lend,
than endanger our liberties by trusting the Crown with so great a
power. That this power is vastly great if the Crown may by
proclamation hinder the subjects from not lending money or effects
to any Prince whatever, and that for an unlimited time ; that if
we must be restrained, we ought to declare the particular Prince
whom we are to be restrained from helping, and name the Emperor
in the Bill. Sir Robert Walpole repeated again that this was proper
to be considered in the Committee, but that it would be very
improper to name the Emperor while as yet he has not commenced
war ; it were in a manner to declare war upon him, when our desire
is that he should incline to peace.

The Attorney General said it was improper to enter upon the
different modifications of the Bill, which would be the work of
the Committee. He should, therefore, confine himself to reason
upon the necessity of this Bill in general. He said, whatever power
is given the King by this Bill arises in this House ; that by the
common law the King can restrain his subjects from going into
the service of another Prince, though in amity, and he exercises
that power at pleasure with respect to seamen or land soldiers,
who are bound to return home at his call ; by parity of reason he
should hinder the subjects ser^'/ing other Princes with their money
as much as in their persons. That trading with other States can
not be interrupted by this Bill, because there is a particular clause
to allow thereof ; that this Bill is no more an inquisition than the
Bill that passed to restrain the subject from being concerned in the
Ostend Company, or the power given the East India Company,
or the Bill for discovering the South Sea directors' effects, in all
which the persons concerned were obliged to declare upon oath
whether they were concerned or not in the respective trades, and
whether those directors gave a just account of their forfeited
estates.

Sir William Wyndham made a sorry speech, and concluded
that he hoped never to see such a Bill pass as that against the
South Sea directors, and that he was of opinion the whole frame of
this Bill should be altered. Mr. Danvers said the Butch were
embarked in interest with the Ostend Company at the time we
excluded our subjects a share there, which he did not at that time
approve. The Dutch knew it would enrich them, and enable them
to carry on war if necessary, and we ought to have known it too ;
that if the Dutch should lend the Emperor money now, they would
be paid a good interest for it, and the Emperor be enabled to
prosecute his designs without our help, and that being the case

60 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 24-25
he was for taking the same course, and going snacks in- the advantage
of lending our money at a smart interest, though to an enemy.
Mr. Fortescue was the last who spoke, he only animadverted
on Mr. Danvers's speech, and then the question was put for com-
mitting the Bill, which passed without a division.

Mr. Taylor dmed with me, and I passed the evening at home.

Wednesday, 25 February. — To-day my brother Dering called on
me, and soon after my brother Parker. They were of opinion
that as the Court had lately showed me particular civilities, I
should do right to answer their expectations in the House as far
my judgment and conscience would suffer me, but that my brother
Parker, not being in the way of meeting the same civilities, was
not obliged to attend the House with equal assiduity. Sir Philip,
however, went this day to the House, where the King's Speech was
taken into consideration with respect to the paragraph contained
therein relating to the Sinking Fund, and the ease his Majesty
graciously hinted at in favour of the manufactures of the kingdom.
This being the order of the day, the House resolved itself into a
Committee, to which Sir Charles Turner was chairman.

Sir Robert Walpole opened the debate, by prefacing that his
Majesty having recommended from the throne that some ease might
be given to our manufactures out of the Sinking Fund, himself
had some days ago acquainted the House \vith his thoughts there-
upon ; that he had mentioned the taking off the duty upon candles
to be what m liis opinion would prove of most advantage to the
people. That he then spoke it as his own private thoughts and
should now propose it again as such, but as his whole desire was
to do what should appear most prudent to the House, he hoped
we should debate the thing impartially, assuming as there would
be no influence from his side in the prosecution of this matter, for
he was ready to acquiesce in any proposition should be made in
favour of the people, consistent with a just regard to the Sinking
Fund. That the tax upon candles by a medium of seven years
brought in 130,000Z., the tax on soap 150,000/., and that on salt
185,000/. ; that the Sinking Fund is now 1,130,000/. a year.
He believed if it was reduced to one million, the fund would remain
sufficient to carry on the desirable end of paying in a reasonable
time the heavy debt the nation lies under ; he therefore was for
easing the duty on candles, which came pretty near a sum that
would still leave the Sinking Fund a million ; but if the soap or
salt should be thought of, the fund would be too much reduced.
However, he would make no motion, but leave it to the House
to consider. After a considerable pause, Mr. Plummer (not he in
employment) rose, and said he should be against preferring the
easing the people of the candle duty to that of the salt, because
the salt is more oppressive ; that the duty on candles is but a penny
a pound, and there has been these two years past so great a scarcity
of fat cattle that tallow has been very dear, so that the taking off
the duty on candles, which is but a penny a pound, will not ease
the people to any purpose, whereas if the salt duty be removed, the
whole nation will find an immediate benefit thereby ; that
the duty on salt is three shillings and sixpence per bushel, and the
price of a bushel five or six shillings. That a man who spends
forty shilUngs a year in candles, though the duty be taken off,
vn\\ still spend thirty-five shillings, whereas he who spends twenty

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 61

1729-30.

shillings a year in salt, if the duty be removed, will spend but
five ; that everybody does not spend much in candles, but all men
do in salt, and that the manufacturer will therefore find more ease
by taking off the salt duty than that upon candles. That a man
who sows two acres of ground consumes five bushels of salt, and
we ought to regard the farmers' ease. That if due enquiry were
made, it would be found that London alone pays half the duty
upon candles, so that by taking off this last, the country will not
have a sufficient benefit thereby.

Mr. Barnard said that we had two things proposed to our con-
sideration, the care of the Sinking Fund, and the ease of our manu-
facturers. That he saw so little concern for the former at times
when the current service of the year required the raising of money,
that he despaired of the debts of the nation being ever paid, and
therefore he was in no more concern about it, but would singly
consider the ease of the manufacturer, which he thought would
be best provided for by taking off the duty upon soap, as the
heaviest on the poor, whereas the rich will have the greatest
advantage by reduction of the candle tax, or if neither pleased, he
would be for easing the salt duty, believing a poor family spends
more in salt than a rich one, but if the Committee came into none
of these, he should be for taking off the bounty upon exported com
which would both increase the Sinking Fund and render bread
cheaper by the com that would remain in the kingdom. This he was
sure would prove of universal advantage.

Sir John Cotton declared himself for taking off the salt duty,
because it would encourage our fishery, nor is it an objection that
by so doing the bounty or drawback will be lost, for as things
stand now, after the bounty paid on salt, the fishermen throw
their commodity into the sea. Besides, there is no tax which pays
so much for the management.

Mr. Clayton stated the surplus of the Sinking Fund showed
our national debt is near fifty millions ; that the taxes appropriated
to the payment of it amount to three millions and odd money.
That he was against the touching the Sinking Fund at all, the
consequence being dreadful, for in that case we shall never be
out of debt, and so never in a condition to defend ourselves in case
of a new war; whereas if we keep the Sinking Fund sacred, in
twenty years we shall be out of debt, and the most flourishing
state in Europe. That whatever we think of the low state of our
trade, the national debt is our greatest grievance. Besides, these
funds are the property of the South Sea and India Companies,
which if we break into, farewell all credit, and none will advance
money to the Government upon any emergency.

Lord Tyrconnell said we might touch part of the Sinking Fund
and 3^et leave enough of it to pay the national debt, and secure
the Companies ; that by so doing, indeed, the debt would be some
years longer in paying, but it is reasonable our posterity should
bear a part of this load, especially since the debt was incurred
to secure our liberty and religion to them. That he hoped never
to see all our debt discharged, because it would ruin multitudes
of people, who subsist by the interest they draw from the funds ;
besides, that such people, who are a great body, must be dependent
on and friends to the Government, which he desired might have
a lasting establishment.

62 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 25

Sir John Cotton said again that he must still be for taking ofif
the duty on salt, that he was sensible if it were done, the drawback
must cease, but the fishermen would receive so great advantage
by it that he was sure they would be satisfied to forego the draw-
back, though it amounts to twenty thousand pounds a year.
Mr. Lawson said that if we come to any resolution, it can only
be what duty affects most the poor. He was confident the
Companies would agree to the opinion of the House ; what we shall
take ofif from the Sinking Fund will only prolong the discharging
the national debt ; that candles is a luxury, the use of salt of
absolute necessity to all men ; this duty while it lasts affects the
navigation, for he could make it out that every seaman stands us in
4 shillings elevenpence for salt alone per annum, which according
to the number maintained this year comes to 14,900 bushels.
That three-quarters of a pound of candles serves one poor
family a whole week, and such family uses candles but seven
months in the year, whereas it uses salt every day of the
year which comes to a great deal more money. That several
manufactureis do not use candles to speak of at all. That, indeed,
all men who are worth one hundred pounds a year spend less in
salt than candles, but all who have under that sum, and especially
the poor, whom we ought principally to regard, spend more in salt
than candles. That to ease us of the candle duty is a thing in which
the rich will participate, but it will please the people to see how
generous we are in preferring the poor's advantage to our own.

Mr. Waller said he observed no progress was made in paying
the national debt out of the Sinking Fund, and therefore is for
easing the people out of it ; that taking off the duty on salt would
be of greatest ease ; that although by so doing one hundred and
eighty-five thousand pounds were taken from the Sinking Fund,
there would still remain one million and one hundred and seventy
thousand pounds, according to his computation, to pay off the
national debt.

Sergeant Sheperd said he was for easing the duty on soap,
because the woollen manufacture would be most benefited by
it, and that unless that manufacture be helped by removnig
the loads on it, it is not possible it should subsist, but France
must undo us in it, and whereas it may be said there is a drawback
of one half of the duty, that is no sufficient answer, for it mil not
hinder the French underselling us.

Sir William Young said he should prefer the ease of the manu-
facturers to any other set of subjects, and he was convinced the
taking off the duty on candles would be a greater ease to them
than that of soap or salt. That gentlemen were mistaken in their
computations of comparing a bushel of salt to a pound of candles,
for they should rather compare a pound of salt to a pound of candles.
He believed every poor family uses a pound of candles, where he
uses not a pound of salt. He observed in the country that the
duty most complained of was that on candles, that the amount of
either duty had a great influence on his judgment, for he was lessen-
ing as little as he could the Companies' security, and the means of
paying off the national debt.

Sir Joseph Jekyll said he was for preferring salt to candles.
That the farmers and labourers depending on them were more
in number than the manufacturers, that the charge of

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 63

1729-30.

management of the salt duty being much greater than that
of candles, was an argument of great weight with him ; he
was for laying aside the former, which comes to twenty-five
thousand pounds per annum, whereas that of candles is but ten
thousand pounds. That to ease the candles would not lessen the
price, as was observed in leather, the duty of which being taken
off, the high price remained, so that when the necessities of the
Government obliged the Parliament to restore the former duty,
leather became prodigious dear ; that this will be the fate of the
candles. That the victualling English vessels, by taking off the
high price of salt (occasioned by the duty on it) would be of great
benefit to this nation, in that the ships which now go to Ireland
to victual there for cheapness would victual in England.

Sir William Young rose again, but he was very uneasily heard
by the House, by which might be guessed that the easing of candles
was no favourite notion of the House. He asserted the manu-
facturers to be equal in number to the farmers, but if not, the poorer
sort, though inferior in number, ought to be helped before those who
are richer ; that victualling in England and not in Ireland would
be of no service to the poor, nor to the manufacturers, for it would
raise the price of meat in England and consequently of work.

Sir Robert Walpole said he had given his opinion for candles,
as finding the duty on them talHed with the sum the Sinking Fund
could afford to spare. He thought the general desire of people
without doors had been to ease the candles ; that if salt had taken
less from the Sinking Fund than the other, he had been for reducing
the duty on salt ; he must think that the farmer is not so great
an object of compassion as the manufacturer, and that candles
rendered cheaper by reducing the duty would prove of more general
good, and that to a poorer sort of people, than lessening the value
of salt. That as both duties are at present the property of two
great Companies, the Committee could come to no resolution this
night : on like occasions the method has always been to wait the
sense of the Companies interested in the debates, of which
Companies were several gentlemen members of the House, who
recollecting the sense of the Committee would confer together,
and afterwards acquaint us what they were willing to consent to.
That the management of the revenue on candles came but to
SL 5s. per cent, on the gross produce, and the management of the
whole revenues of the longdom but SI. 9s. 9d. per cent. That the
management of the salt was no charge at all, being under
the Commissioners of Excise. That there is a bounty of twenty
thousand pounds upon salt, which is a great encouragement, but
must drop if the duty on salt be taken away.

Sir Joseph Jekyl said the estimating the charge of management
of duties ought to be computed according to the neat, and not the
gross produce ; that the drawback on salt is a reason for taking
off that duty.

Mr. Oglethorp said he was for easing the salt preferable to the
candles, because it would take most from the Sinking Fund, which
he thought was grown so great that it might prove prejudicial
to the kingdom's safety, and absolutely undo it, if it fell into the
hands of a bad Ministry ; that the nation is much abused in that
matter of the bounty, and that by reducing the duty on salt,
provision will come cheaper to the manufacturer.

64 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 25-26

Mr. Earl was likewise for easing the salt, and said the taking
off the duty of candles was easing the rich more than the poor,
and London, which wanted it not, would reap the principal advantage
from it. That it stands a poor farmer in the country in a crown
to salt a hog, and that a family of such poor spend more in one
year in salt than they do their whole lives in candles.

Mr. Heathcote was likewise for salt ; the poor people would eat
better and work more, whereby manufactures would increase.
Mr. Danvers spoke next, and said he was glad to see so full a
Committee, all inclined to enjoy the Sinking Fund, which formerly
was exhibited as a beautiful object to be admired but not touched ;
that we had started too many hares, but some question must be
come to, and something should be resolved on. His opinion was
to take away the duties both of soap and candles, and nine in the
nation to one would be for it, if they were polled ; that candles
spent in London is not all luxury, for there are vast numbers of
manufacturers and poor labourers in this great metropolis. He
should ever be for taking all the duties off, the salt as well as the
others ; that altogether would reduce the Sinking Fund but four
hundred and sixty-five thousand pounds and there would still
remain seven hundred and twenty thousand pounds ; that this
reduction of the fund would indeed prolong the payment of the
national debt, but such prolongation will be advantageous to
the nation, for should the creditors of the nation, who subsist on the
interest they receive from the public, be suddenly paid off, it would
prove the destruction of many thousand families, to the great
diminution of our wealth, of our consumption, and of rents of houses ;
the whole nation would feel it in some shape or other, and the
City of London in a particular manner.

Lord Malpas was for preferring salt, and so was Mr. Cholmley
and Mr. Sands. The latter said he was once very thoughtful
in favour of the Sinking Fund, but now by the management
of it he despaired any good would come from it, and therefore
declined having any further concern for it ; that his whole
thoughts now turned upon easing the subjects the speediest way.
He moved last year for taking off the duty on candles and soap,
but had since changed his opinion, and is for discharging that duty
which will take most from the Sinking Fund. He does not
believe it will destroy public credit, since enough ^vill remain to
secure the property of the creditors of the public.

Mr. Lawson, recapitulating some things he had said before,
was for coming to no question. Sir Robert Walpole repeated that
we could come to no question : it was not Parliamentary to do so.
In the meantime the members of the two Companies who are
present and know the sense of the Committee will consider what will
be best in their judgment for the House to do, an undoubted
equivalent being secured them for the duty that shall be taken
off.

Mr. Will Pulteney acknowledged it was right to break up on
this occasion without coming to a resolution, the Companies'
properties being concerned in the debate. He saw the majority
were for easing the salt ; he should be for easing the people out
of the Sinking Fund, but not for deducting from it, by applying
any part thereof to the current service of the year, and therefore
he hoped we should hear no more of applying the lottery 1710 to

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 65

1729-30.

make part of the money to be raised for this year's service. He
hoped, too, that the Sinking Fund that should remain, after the
duties resolved on for ease of the people are taken from it, will be
ascertained, and then absolutely tied down and secured by Act of
Parliament never to be applied to any annual services, but made
sacred for discharging the national debt.

Sir Robert Walpole replied that the motion was irregular, and
not before the Committee at present ; but he would make it appear
the lottery 1710 was never a part of the Sinking Fund.

Mr. Plummer said that if it was acknowledged to be the sense
of the House that salt had carried it, as he thought the majority
were for, he would not insist on any question. No reply being
made, the Speaker re-assumed the chair, and Sir Charles Turner
reported the Committee had made some progress, and then we broke
up about five o'clock.

After dinner, my brother Dering came in and told me he had
been in the morning at Court, and that the Prince told him he had
thought of a thing for his service, which he believed would do.

Thursday, 26 February. — This day the trial at bar of the election
of Beaumorris was to come on, but a petition being given in by
Mr. Barnard for laying open the trade to the East Indies, the
importance of it occasioned a debate that lasted till seven at night,
whether to let the petition lie on the table or reject it. The petition
set forth that whereas by several Acts of Parliament the present
East India Company are possessed of a fund of one hundred and
sixty thousand pounds a year, in consideration of three millions
two hundred thousand pounds advanced by them at several times
to the Government, and whereas 'tis conceived that their trade
as well as the fund do expire and determine upon repayment of
the said three million two hundred thousand pounds any time
after the 25th of March, 1733, provided the Company have three
years' notice, the petitioners proposed : first, that the sum
of three million two hundred thousand pounds be borrowed of
private persons, payable at five payments, and the whole to be
completed by the 25th of March, 1733. Second, that the three
million two hundred thousand pounds so advanced shall go to
pay off the Government's debt to the Company in order to redeem the
fund and trade. Third, that the persons advancing the above
sum shall be incorporated and vested with the whole right and
liberty of trading to all the ports of the East Indies and elsewhere,
in the same extensive degree as is granted to the present East India
Company. Yet not so as that the Company to be erected shall
in any mse carry on the trade with their joint stock or in their
corporate capacity, but that the trade shall be free and open to
all the King's subjects, upon license from the Company, and
provided the trade be exercised to and from the port of London
only, which license shall be obliged to grant upon the payment
of one per cent, on the value of the exports for the benefit of the
Corporation. Fourth, that to enable the Company to pay an
annuity to the persons advancing the said three million two hundred
thousand pounds, and to defray the necessary expenses for main-
taining forts and settlements, and for the preservation and enlarge-
ment of the trade, a duty not exceeding five per cent, be laid on
all goods imported from India, and payable on the gross value.
Fifth, that for the above sum of three million two hundred

Wt. 24408. IB 5

66 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 26
thousand pounds there be allowed and paid by the Government
an interest of four per cent, per annum from the time of the several
payments respectively till the 25th of March, 1735, in regard the
Company will not be able to receive all the proposed advantages
before that time, and that from and after the 25th of March, 1735,
the interest from the Government be only two per cent, during the
continuance of the right and liberty of trade as aforesaid, which
will be ninety-six thousand pounds per annum less than is now
paid by the Government to the present East India Company.
Sixth, the Company shall out of the monej^ accruing to them from
the Government, and from the aforesaid duties on trade pay an
annuity of four per cent., by equal half-yearly payments, to the
persons advancing the said three millions two hundred thousand
pounds, and the money remaining after the payment of the said
annuity shall be subject to the disposition of the proprietors.

Mr. Barnard, at delivering the petition, set forth several
advantages that Avould accrue from this proposal, namely, that
ninety-six thousand pounds per annum being saved to the Govern-
ment might be applied to the Sinking Fund, which would much
forward the discharge of the national debt ; that exclusive trades
are monopolies and therefore a hardship on the subject ; that
all trades thrive best which lie open, and are not under manage-
ment of a few directors, who enrich themselves without regard
to the general good of their nation. That numbers of rich
merchants are now excluded from the East India trade who would,
if suffered so to do, carry it on cheaper than at present, to the
greater export of our manufacture, the greater employment of our
seamen, the lowering the price of India goods consumed at home,
and furnishing the markets abroad cheaper and m greater
quantities than at present. That it would advance the duties of
Customs and Excise, and thereby lessen our national debt, reduce
our most burthensome taxes, and encourage our manufactures.
That it will employ more of our ships in freight, if it were only
from one part of the Indies to another, which is all clear gain and
profit to our nation, and that it will prevent private persons
acquainted with, the India trade from being under a necessity
for want of employment here to seek it in other nations of Europe,
and bring home others now employed in the service of other nations.
He moved therefore to refer the petition to a Committee, or that
it might lie on the table to be considered.

Then Dr. Sayer got up, and said he must oppose the petition on
several accounts ; that this scheme had been sent to Holland to
prevail on such as are proprietors in the India Company and reside
there to send over directions to sell their stock and thereby dis-
credit the Company ; that new projects are uncertain in their
event and dangerous ; that the Company merit greatly from the
public, in advancing at several times great sums of money for the
necessities of the Government ; that the East India trade cannot
be carried on but by an exclusive trade, and under the direction of
a Company ; that it would be a breach of public faith, even
Parliamentary faith, to lay their Company open after relying
thereupon they had been at great expenses to raise town's settle-
ments and forts and surmounted almost insuperable difficulties,
which being now overcome, and the trade on the best foot
imaginable, it would be monstrous to dissolve them and let others

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 67

1729-30.

enjoy the benefit of their labours and disbursements. But one
argument against the petition is invincible, namely, that the
Company have granted to them by the 10 of Queen Anne a per-
petuity of trade, to prove which he desired it might be read. He
allowed they had not a perpetuity of the funds settled on them
for payment of the interest of monies borrowed of them, but
affirmed their liberty of an exclusive trade was given them by
that Act to possess for ever. Upon this the said Act with others
preceding, which he called for, were read, and he made his observa-
tions thereon to prove his assertion. Then he concluded that if
Parliamentary faith shall be broke into, the consequence was
dreadful, it would shake the very being of Parliaments, at least
whenever the Government should have occasion for money to
maintain a just war, or to defend themselves, no man nor company
of men would advance it. He therefore moved for rejecting the
petition.

Mr. Glanville seconded him, saying the India Company have
as undoubted a right to a perpetual trade as we ourselves have to
our private estates. That there is a mystery in this petition ;
one design is to sacrifice the India trade to the Dutch East India
Company, another design in offering it, and recommending it to be
received, is to give the brokers of Exchange Alley an opportunity
to reap their harvest. That were the Company's trade capable
of being taken away it could not be done before the year 1736 ;
that the petition asserting a falsehood in setting down the time
three years sooner was alone a reason for rejecting it ; on the whole
he could give it no other name than a pickpocket petition.

Mr. Bernard then got up in a heat, and said he despised the word
pickpocket ; that the gentlemen who signed the petition were
men of honour and substance ; he knew them all, and not one was
a dealer in Exchange Alley, not a broker had put his hand to it,
nor any gentleman but who was above gaining by the rise or fall
of stocks. That he was so far from thinking the Dutch East India
Company would gain by laying ours open, that it was the effectual
means to ruin them. If the petitioners are mistaken in setting
down 1733 for 1736, it is no reason for rejecting them. He is
informed there is a design to bubble up the East India stock to
two hundred, in order to take in subscriptions, and play the same
game over again the nation so severely suffered by in 1720. That
'tis impossible the Company should have a perpetuity of trade
granted them by the 10 of Queen Anne, for they did not so much
as ask the Parliament at that time for so unreasonable a grant,
and surely the Parliament intended not to give them more than
they asked. They used, indeed, at that time a great deal of
artifice, and put a trick upon the Parliament, who unwarily inserted
words which by implication may be wire-drawn to imply a
perpetuity, but the Act does not expressly allow it the Company
as it would have done if that were the Parliament's intention, and
the nation has a right to vindicate the cheat then put upon her.

Upon this the Speaker reproved him for speaking so disrespectfully
of Parliaments.

The SoUcitor General said the question was whether the Parlia-
ment should take away the privileges purchased by the Company.
That by the perusal of the Acts it seemed to him a perpetuity of
trade was granted them, but he would not declare it positively

68 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 26
as his opinion for many reasons, one whereof is that if the Company
have made any proposals advantageous to the Government, they
would fly off in case they should be understood by the House to
have that perpetuity, for then they would not think it necessary
to pay anything. As to laying the trade open, it is visibly the
sense of all nations that an East India trade cannot be carried
on but by a Company; the Dutch know it, and had never been
considerable by a Company, who shall maintain the forts in India,
but without forts our trade thither would fall to nothing. He
thought a false assertion in this or any other petition is a ground
for rejecting. That whatever doubts might arise about a
perpetual trade granted, the Act did certainly not restrain the
expiration of the Company's liberty of trading to the time of paying
off the funds assigned them. Again, the petition ought to be
rejected, because too early in point of time. He mshed the House
would therefore do it without entering into the merits of the
assertions contained in it. It was no absurd thing in that
Parliament to grant more than the Company then asked. That
whether the Company has a perpetual right or no to trade, it has
been so understood without doors, and great numbers have
purchased property in it on that foot. How many orphans and
widows must it ruin then to destroy the Company.

Mr. Perry supported the petition, and accused the management
of the East India Company, among other things mentioning
their buying gunpowder in Holland instead of England, because of
the cheapness.

Sir Charles Wager said that without any other argument, he
was against the petition because too hasty in point of time. If
gentlemen did not care to reject it, or refer it to a Committee,
or to let it lie on the table, there was a fourth way to be eased of
it. The gentleman who brought it in might withdraw it, and the
petitioners might offer it again if they pleased three years
hence.

Mr. Oglethorp said he was ever for hearing petitions unless
very great arguments were against them ; that here are great
arguments in favour of this, the advantageous proposal made the
Government, the credit of the persons who signed it, the per-
niciousness of a trade granted in perpetuity, and the advantage
of separate trade to a nation, which is always carried cheaper on
than by Companies, in which last it is constantly observed the
directors monstrously enrich themselves, while the proprietors are
kept ignorant of their concerns, and their properties narrowed.
That nobody knows but the Company may be in a very bad
condition, at least no Company is in worse reputation. He believed
the Company have not a perpetuity of trade, at least they do not
think so themselves, else they would not offer eight hundred
thousand pounds, as he hears they are now doing, to have a
prolongation of their term.

Mr. Borret, a merchant, said the Company have carried their
trade to the greatest extent, and yet never exported more than the
value of eight hundred thousand pounds. He wondered, therefore,
how the petitioners could make a proposal that would ruin them,
but the truth is, many of them have subscribed to this project for
more than they are worth, and therefore he takes this to be only
a project to set the brokers in Exchange Alley at work.

First viscotJNT percival. 69

1729-30.

Mr. Bernard justified the abilities, integrity and fortunes of the
petitioners.

Captain Vernon then made a violent speech in favour of the
petition, but was ill heard, and called down for reflecting on the
former Parliaments, as Bernard had done before.

Sir William Wyndham said he was one of the tellers on the
division for passing that Act of 10 Queen Anne ; that it was a thin
House, one hundred and thirty-five against eighty-five. That he
remembered, while the Bill was in the Committee, the clause
that now occasions a doubt about the perpetuit}^ was not part of it,
but afterwards was added by the House, jet then nobody under-
stood that the Parliament gave thereby a perpetuity of trade to
the Company; that trade is best carried on without Companies,
the Portugal trade to the Indies an instance of it.

Sir William Young was against new experiments. The India
trade is now in a flourishing way the project of the petitioners
may not answer. The trade of Portugal to the Indies is incon-
siderable to ours. We must have large settlements and strong
forts, as the Dutch have there ; these are the property of the
Company, who built them at great hazards and expense, and
would be unjust to give them to a new Company, who does not
propose to buy them, nor whatever they pretend, would be able
to keep them up when in their possession, for separate traders are
a rope of sand, and can raise no fund sufficient for such a purpose.
That the advantages of this trade as now carried on by the Company
are so many and great, that we see other nations begin to envy us,
the Emperor, Denmark, and Sweden are attempting to imitate
us by erecting Companies, but these are little and feeble, and the
strength and riches of our Company will break them speedily,
whereas should the trade be laid open, they may chance to
succeed. That 'tis at least a doubt whether the Company have
not a perpetual right to trade, and that while it is only a doubt,
he should never take the same step to hurt their properties, which
might be taken in case it were clear they have not such perpetuity.
He is therefore for rejecting the petition, because it were unjust
to grant it, at least in himself, who doubted concerning the
Company's right. That to pay the petition so much compliment
as even to let it lie on the table, would be a sort of implication
that the House were of opinion the Company had not that perpetuity,
but that 'tis in the Parliament's power to dissolve it, Avhich would
strike a terror in the proprietors and sink the stock to the advantage
of brokers and their principals who now watch for an advantage
to buy in cheap. That the moment the Company is dissolved,
the Dutch will possess the forts there, and it would be impossible
for separate traders to recover them, or to carry on their trade
when lost.

After him Wortley Mountague spoke strongly for receiving
the petition, as Vemey, the Welsh judge, did against it.

Then Sir Joseph Jekyl spoke for letting it lie on the table. He
said since the Company had offered money, we ought to make the
best bargain for the public, and they would bid more if they saw
some countenance given to the petition. That supposing the
Company had really a perpetuity, the nation if highly grieved
thereby have a power to repeal and change it, for it is a sure maxim
that the safety of the nation is the supreme law, and nothing

70 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 26-27
detrimental to our country can be supposed to be allowed and
intended by the legislature. That as the Act stands out of which
this doubtful perpetuity of trade is by impUcation inferred (for
there is nothing positively and clearly enacted that countenances
it), he observed there was no valuable consideration given by the
Company for the purchase of that pretended right of perpetuity,
and therefore the grant is void in itself, as in private contracts,
where if all be done on one side and nothing on the other, the
contract is void. The same is in purchases, if no valuable con-
sideration be given, the purchase is not good. But he stood not
on this, for if a perpetual trade be detrimental to the nation, the
Act that gave it ought to be repealed ; otherwise a State is in a
bad condition, if bound by Acts to their own undoing.

Secretary Pelham replied that he was surprised to hear that
eminent lawyer assert that public faith might be broke into, and
that titles to estates were void for want of a valuable consideration
paid to the grantor. He knew several estates held without payment
of a valuable consideration and would instance the grant of
Blenheim, made by Parliament to the Duke of Marlborough, wherein
no consideration was paid by him ; that by this way of arguing,
the Parliament might reassume that grant. That to say a
Parliament may do a thing because it can, is not a just way of
arguing, it is arguing from power, but not from right. The
Parliament should do nothing that is unjust, and in that sense the
legislature is itself tied up. That as to the grant made the Company,
they had paid very valuable considerations, though not recited
in the form which lawyers so nicely distinguish upon, and which
indeed, is one of the grievances complained of in the law ; they had
advanced great sums to the Government in critical exigencies,
they had been at great charges in building forts, and they had
carried on a beneficial trade to the nation.

Counsellor Lutwych said he would give no opinion on the Act of
Parliament ; he knew nothing of this debate when he came into the
House, and indeed had not so much as seen and considered the
Act. He beheved there were many gentlemen in the like condition,
and therefore hoped the House would at least suffer the petition to
lie on the table, the rather that by the form of Parliament the
consideration of it could not be renewed this session ; by this
decent riddance of it, the gentlemen who opposed it Avould gain
their point as well as by rejecting it, and it would be showing a
tender regard of a great body of merchants who are affirmed to be
men of worth ; that we could not refuse their petition as much
respect as was paid the petitions against the hawkers and pedlars.
After he had ended, Mr. Lee, a lawyer, said he would give no opinion
on the Act, but he thought the Parliament had power to repeal
and take away any privileges granted the Company, yet he was
not for receiving the petition, because that would imply the sense
of the House to be that the Company have not a right to a perpetual
trade, while the matter is yet doubtful. That it is a received rule
that the debates of the House upon the sense of an Act of Parliament
is to be taken for the sense of such Act, and therefore he was for
rejecting the petition without entering into the merits of it. Then
Mr. Will. Pulteney got up to support receiving the petition, but it
being very late, and myself quite tired, and being besides uncertain
which way to give my vote, I left the House at seven o'clock. I

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 71

1729-30.

heard afterwards that they did not break up till a little before nine,

when the petition was rejected by a majority of 231 against 131.

Friday, 27 February. — The affair of Dunkirk came on this day,
and we sat from twelve till near three o'clock in the morning. The
debates were warm on both sides, and no wonder, for it was owned
by Sir William Wyndham and Mr. Will. Pulteney, towards the
conclusion, that their aim that night was to enquire and mark
out those Muiisters whose negligence or corruption had reduced
this nation to a dependance on France. After reading a multitude
of extracts and copies of letters, instructions and memorials,
relating to the Council of Mardyke and the repairs of Dunkirk m
the course of several years, evidently and expressly contrary to
the Treaty of Utrecht and the Triple Alliance, it was expected that
Sir Robert Walpole would have moved that Colonel Armstrong
should be called in and examined as to the condition and nature
of the repairs at Dunkirk, in disproof of the evidence which on that
head had been given at the bar the tenth instant. For the further
consideration of Dunkirk had been put off to this day on pretence
that Armstrong's return, who was gone to France, was necessary,
that he might inform us what works contrary to treaty had been
carried on at that place. But Sir Robert Walpole declined calling
for Armstrong, admitting now that the chief part of the former
evidence given, and which he then would discredit, was true in
fact, and indeed this so plainly appeared by the papers we went
through, that the whole House were of the same judgment as to
that point.

Then Sir William W3Tidham took notice how odd it appeared
to him that after so long a delay on pretence of the necessity there
was to hear what Armstrong could say towards the invalidating
the former evidence, it now should be thought improper to hear
him. That he had procured fresh evidence to corroborate the
facts related to us by the former, and would call for them in if it
were the pleasure of the House, which being yielded to, three
persons appeared at the bar, who told us a new quay has been
making on the east side of the harbour, which in July last was half a
mile long ; that Thursday last was se'nnight there were sixty
vessels in the harbour of Dunkirk, and thirty or forty men at work
in repairing the harbour ; that by the French King's orders all
ships going to Boulogne are obUged to return freighted with stone
for repairing the ruined works. That the Risebank fort, which
was demolished, is of extent for receiving forty guns, and is dry
twenty foot above high water ; that it is one hundred and fifty
yards long, but not plain enough for admitting cannon yet. That
the French King allows fifty thousand livres yearly for the repairs,
and soldiers work at them. That the Admiralty Office is continued
there from the beginning of the demoHtion, and since the Duke of
Bouffiers was there last summer the works are carried on more
than before ; that piles have been drawn out of the batterdean ;
that in November, 1727, one of the evidence brought in a ship of
220 ton up to the harbour, which drew fifteen foot water. A model
was also produced of the work, invented by one Bushell, an
Englishman at Dunkirk, for cleansing the harbour and canal.

Then Sir William Wyndham began the debate, and after enlarging
on the breach of the treaty of Utrecht by the repairs incontestibly
proved to have been made, a motion to this effect, that it appears

72 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 27
to the Committee that for some time past works have been carried
on to restore the port and harbour of Dunkirk in violation of the
Treaty, 1717.

It was designed that Mr. Sands should second the motion, in
which case the question must have been put, but to defeat this,
Sir Robert Walpole had concerted that Dr. Sayer should instantly
rise to oppose the motion, and offer another, and that as soon as
he should finish Mr. Henry Bromly should second the Doctor,
before Sands could rise to second Sir William.

Sayers expressed his astonishment at Sir William's motion,
said it appeared calculated to make a breach with. France, and
discredit the Treaty of Seville to gratify the Emperor. That
though it is evident there has been a violation of the Treaty of
Utrecht on the part of the inhabitants by the reparations at
Dunkirk, yet it is not evidence that the Court of France authorised
those repairs, and since that Court has frequently denied their
having a hand in it, we could not justify a declaration that the
treaty is violated : treaties being made between monarchs, and not
their subjects. That by the law of nations. Princes are not to be
accounted violators of their treaties, unless they justify such
violations and take it on themselves, which the Court of France
is so far from doing, that orders are issued for demolishing the very
works complained of. That we are all sensible of our King's care
in constantly representing against the works as often as he had
notice of their going on. Sir William's motion carried an imputa-
tion on him as wanting to take that care which yet all allow he has
taken. That he was in hopes Sir Wilham intended to have made
a motion of a quite contrary nature, namely to thank the King,
instead of accusing him for want of care of his people, which being
his o^vn sense, he would take the liberty to move the committee
to address his Majesty to thank him for his early care to reduce
Dunkirk into the state the treaties demanded, and for procuring
a promise from the Court of France that the works carried on at
Dunkirk, without authority of that Court, which may have been
contrary to treaties, shall be destroyed, on which promise we
entirely rely ; and to express our satisfaction in the union between
both kingdoms. This was the effect of his motion. He had no
sooner done, than Bromly and Sands got up ; and Mr. Edgcomb,
the Chairman, pointing to Bromly, the other side were greatly
disconcerted, for since he was to speak they saw Sir William's
motion must give place to Dr. Sayers'. They therefore strongly
opposed Mr. Bromly's speaking, and insisted that the Committee
had a controlling power over the Chairman, to declare which
gentleman was first up. Mr. Vyner said that Sands was first.
Mr. Winnington replied it was the privilege of the Chairman to
appoint, and it was never known that a Committee opposed it ;
the reason of the thing spoke it, for if some one person did not
determine the person, there would be nothing but confusion.
Mr. Oglethorp was of Vyner's side, and Gibbons likewise, who said
that the journals show the Speaker in the House has not been allowed
that privilege on several occasions, and if the House may overrule
the Speaker, much more may a Committee overrule their Chairman.
Old Mr. Bromly spoke also to the same purpose, but Mr. Lawson, an
ancient member, said that disorder had of late years so crept into
Parliamentary proceedings that it was grown a custom to dispute

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 73

1729-30.

the most established privileges. He therefore thought as things
are now the House or the Committee might do as they pleased ;
at least he was careless in the matter, but in old time it was orderly
for the Speaker and Chairman to call up the person he had first in
his eye, in whom the gentleman acquiesced ; he would not, however,
say that the Committee might not judge who ought to speak.
It was long insisted to put the thing to a question, at last the
House acquiesced to let Mr. Bromly speak, who seconded Dr. Sayers
in a studied speech, which was well worded, and gave commenda-
tions to his Majesty.

Sands afterwards made his speech, which was intended to support
Sir William Wj^ndham's motion, but it came too late, for now
that of Dr. Sayers' was that we were to debate on, and the other
could have no place unless this were first rejected. This was
accordingly strongly debated till three o'clock in the morning.
All sides were for agreeing to address the King, but some were for
inserting such resenting expressions at the works carrying on at
Dunkirk as would be shocking to the Court of France, and might
tend to a rupture. There were also many friends of the Govern-
ment, who were much displeased at the words in the address,
without authority of that Court, for no man could believe in his
private judgment that the inhabitants of Dunkirk would dare
to repair their works contrary to the treaty for demolishing them,
without leave from their Court so to do, which was the same as
giving them authority for it, and therefore to tell the King that
they had not authority was a manifest lie, besides it would prove
an inducement to that Court to neglect the performance of their
promise to restore things to their due state if they found us so
tender of their conduct in that affair. I was one of these, who,
communicating my uneasiness to those who supported the address,
and assuring them the Court would lose if those words were to
stand all the Independent members of the House, they were
pleased to propose to the Committee the putting them out, and
they saw the effect of it in the majority that voted for the address
when it came to the question, for upon the division we were two
hundred and seventy against one hundred and forty-nine. The
speakers for the address, besides those already mentioned, were
Mr. Dundas, Lord Advocate, Sir Charles Wager, who treated
Dunkirk as a thing of too little consequence, Sir William Strickland,
Pelham, Secretary at War, Sir Robert Walpole and Horace Walpole.
Those against it were Lord Tyrconnel, Sir Joseph Jekyl, who dis-
approved the invective speeches against a Crown in amity with
us which some had flimg out, and was against both questions,
Sir John Norris, Daniel Pulteney, Barnard, Will. Pulteney,
Oglethorp, Captain Vernon, and Sir Wilfrid Lawson.

There was a debate that lasted some time, while the papers
were reading, occasioned by Mr. Norris, who observed that the
French word in one of them in the original was shaloup, which
he said was wrongly set down in the translation, boat, whereas
shaloup is a sloop ; but he was wrong in that, our English word
shalop coming from the French, and with us a shalop is an open
boat. Mr. Norris therefore desired the original might be read,
which was peevishly opposed by the Court, who are frequently
much to blame in denying to let gentlemen have full satisfaction
in matter of small import. It was said by Sir William Wyndham

/

74 DIARY OF THD

Feb. 27-28
that anciently papers were communicated in their original language
only, and that it is a late practice to have translations given and
the originals denied ; but the Speaker said translations are only
to be read except when any member did not understand the original,
or doubted of the translation, and in that case the original should
be produced. Accordingly, Mr. Norris was at liberty to call for
it. That he remembered the case of General Webb, who, upon
the reading an orginal piece in Latm, stood up and declaring he
did not understand Latin, had the translation read ; that we are
a British House of Commons, and owe that to our own honour that
what passes under our consideration ought to be in our own
language, yet pieces in their original language may be called for
where doubts arise.

In the course of this long debate, many things foreign to it were
brought in, for the single point was in what terms to address his
Majesty, but the malcontents attacked the Administration as
through their ignorance betraying or by their corruption selling
the nation and subjecting it to French councils. This put the
Ministry on defending themselves, and recriminating on the Tory
Ministry in Queen Anne's reign. Sir Robert Walpole hinted that
Lord Bolingbroke was at bottom of this enquiry concerning
Dunkirk, and had sent for the evidences produced by Sir WilUam
Wyndham, five of whom were actually under prosecution for
smuggling ; but rogues he thought should have no credit given
them. He spoke so sharply against that Lord that Sir William
Wyndham took up his defence, upon the foot of thinking it a duty
to defend any person who has not opportunity to speak for himself
when attacked. He remembered the House that Sir Robert Walpole
himself had been censured for corruption, and sent to the Tower
by a former Parliament, so that his case was much the same \^dth
another Parliament's censuring my Lord Bolingbroke.

Pelham then rose, and said he hoped he should be excused if
he justified his friend Sir Robert, since Sir William had done the
same by his friend, that though Sir Robert is present, yet in this
case he could not so decently speak for himself, and might be
considered as absent. That there was no comparison in the cases
of Sir Robert and Lord Bolingbroke. Sir Robert was wrongfully
accused of a trifling money matter by a prevailing party in the
then House of Commons, which party afterwards showed them-
selves enemies to the religion and liberties of their country by
forwarding the interest of a Pretender to the Crown ; that, being
confident of his own innocence, he bravely stayed in the kingdom,
and in a little time the nation did justice to his merit, and called
him to the head of affairs ; but as for my Lord Bolingbroke, he
falsified his oaths, and laid schemes to overturn the Government,
to ruin all that was dear to us, and set up the Pretender, and when
discovered, dared not stand a Parliamentary enquiry, but fled his
country, and entered the Pretender's service. It must be observed
that as it is unparliamentary to name persons, neither Sir Robert
nor Lord Bolingbroke were directly mentioned, but only described.
This called up Mr. Edward Harley, junior, who justified the Tory
Ministry. About the end of the debate, both Sir William Wyndham
and Will. Pulteney spoke out, and OAvned the design of the first
motion made by Sir William was that others might follow for
calling Sir Robert to account. By this the House perceived that

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 75

1729-30.

if that side was strong enough the Ministry would be impeached,
and our affairs thrown into confusion, and this induced several
who had better intentions, and who used to vote with them, now
to leave them and vote with us. The lateness of the night obliged
about thirty members to leave the House before the question
was put, each taking away with him one of the contrary side, so
that supposing about fifteen Tories to retire in that manner, and
adding them to the one hundred and fifty-nine who stayed and
voted, the whole strength of Sir Robert's declared enemies may be
estimated at about one hundred and seventy-five, but doubtless
he has many more secret ones, whose employments obliging them
to act on his side makes it uncertain what is the real number of
his enemies, for should he be removed, and Lord Wilmington or
another put in his place, I believe there would appear a majority
against him.

Saturday, 28 February. — I stayed at home all this and the follow-
ing day by reason of a cold I caught by staying that long
debate ; only went next door to my brother Dering's to dinner.

This evening Colonel Chartres received sentence of death for
the rape committed on one of his maids. He offered nothing in
arrest of judgment, as was expected; it is expected he will be
pardoned. The late King, as likewise Queen Elizabeth, would
never suffer a man condemned for a rape to be executed, as not
believing it possible for to commit the crime unless the woman
in some sort consented. At his trial he made a mean defence, the
main of it consisting in a letter his footman swore to as of her
writing, which was disproved ; some report that he lay with her
twelve nights, before she swore the rape on him, and offered for
two hundred guineas to let the matter drop, which he refused,
and was so sure of getting off that the day of his trial he invited
friends to supper, but he was hurried away to Newgate. As soon
as verdict was given against him, the High Bailiff of Westminster,
who, upon passing it, was entitled to his goods and chattels, went
with his posse to enter the house and seize what he could find, but
met with resistance from within, where eleven women fought
like Amazons, and one made a shot which wounded a watchman.
They were at last overpowered. This colonel is one of the greatest
and most known rogues in England, and by his villainies had
amassed an incredible estate. His practice was to owe abundance
of mean debts and never pay any till arrested and forced by law,
and being asked why he would act so meanly and suffer so much
trouble for trifles, he answered that for one who arrested, there
were twenty that did not, and so he was a gainer. In the north
he kept at his house a seraglio of women, and in the town the like.
And when dinner was done, the company he invited had the offer
of choosing a mistress to pass the night with. One of the gentlemen
rising late next morning saw a servant maid come in to make his
fire, who resembled the woman he had passed the night with, and
who when he saw her first was dressed like a gentlewoman, but
now had a dirty dust gown on. He asked her if she was not the
same person. She answered, " Yes." " Why do you dress so
dirty ?" said he ; "I am sure if others present you as well as I have
done you could afford to go better, for you know I gave you three
guineas." " Yes, sir," said she, " but my master allowed me but a
crown out of it."

76 DIARY OF THE

March l-lO

Sunday, 1 March. — ^This morning prayers and sermon at home.
I did not stir out. I heard the Prince was informed how useful
my brother Parker and I had been in prevailing to get the question
of Friday last moderated, by which a great many members voted
for the address, who had else been against it, and that his Royal
Highness said the Queen should know it. He likewise sent me
his thanks by my brother Bering.

Monday, 2 March. — This day the Queen's birthday was kept,
because of the ball at night, otherwise it had been yesterday, she
being bom the 1st of March, 1685. I had made clothes for it, but
my cold prevented my going to Court, which the Queen was let to
know. In the evening, among other how d'ye's. Sir Robert
Walpole himself sent, which was a sort of aclmowledgment for
what I did on Friday. It was, I suppose, well taken too that my
brother Parker, who very rarely of late years went to Court, was
this day there in a very fine embroidered suit. Of such importance
are trifles in certain conjxmctions of times, how busy is mankind
about vain and transitory things, while we all forget, at least
neglect, the one thing needful.

Tuesday, 3. — I stayed all day still at home, on account of my
sore throat, and drew two teeth. Cousin Southwell came to see
me, and the Duke of Argyle, with others who were not let in.
This day, Hossuck, my new servant came in Lindsey's place. I
give him twenty pounds a year.

Wednesday, 4. — I heard the King intends to pardon Colonel
Chartres, it being found out that the w^oman he would have
ravished was a common strumpet, at least it is so related at Court.
He was pardoned for the like insult on a woman's virtue in
Scotland in King William's reign, and is now in Newgate, diverting
himself with a whore, a prisoner there. All the world agree he
deserved to be hanged long ago, but they differ whether on this
occasion.

Mr. Taylor met at my house this morning one Morris, a shop-
keeper, who deals in Irish linens, and has a shop in London, and
one Kernon, of Ireland, who buys cloth there to supply him. We
agreed that what money I shall pay in Dublm into Kemon's hands
shall be set down to Morris's account, who by a writing is to make
himself answerable for it to me from the day Kernon receives my
money, and the money paid by me in Dublin to said Kernon in
June is at Michaelmas following to be paid me by Morris, with only
five per cent deduction for exchange. A lawyer is to engross
the agreement to be signed by Morris. This bargain will be useful
to Morris, as it supplies him with money to carry on his business,
and to me as I shall draw my rents over at five per cent only,
whereas at present I sometimes pay twelve

Mr. St. Hyacinth came this morning, and I subscribed to his
design of extracting all the foreign journals: the terms are that
each subscriber for four years advances twenty guineas at half-
yearly payments, which in the whole comes to eighty, and after
the expiration of the four years, the subscriber is to receive one
hundred guineas. He calculates upon thirty-two subscribers,
which I fear he will not get.

Thursday, 5. — This mom Lord Lonsdale and Cousin Southwell
and Mr. Horace Walpole came to see me. The latter told me he
hoped not to go abroad again, but to have some employment at

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 77

1729-30.

home. I was told he is to be Cofferer. I said to him that the to\vn
talked of his bemg Secretary of State. He answered there was
nothing in it, nor would he be it if offered, if it were but for his
brother, Sir Robert's sake, for this is a kingdom where the people
are en\aous of others, and would be apt to say that all affairs were
cast into two brothers' hands. He told me, as did Mr. Southwell
afterwards, that the Privy Council had sent over a clause in one of
our Money Bills for taking off the duty on wool and yam imported
from Ireland, which he hoped would not be rejected. I said as those
duties are made part of the revenue, and must be supplied by some
new tax, the Bill to which this clause is added from England may
be justly called a Money Bill, and he knew what objections are
always made to alterations in our Money Bills ; however, I hoped
as this was a clause of so much public good as to go a great way
in preventing the running Irish wool to France, I believed the
Parliament there would pass it, as they had last session their
Money Bill, though altered. He told me Mr. Sansom went to
Harwich last Tuesday to succeed Philipson.

Brother Percival, his family, and Bishop Clayton and his wife
dined mth us.

The House sat this day, as I was informed, till ten at night upon
Brereton's petition against Sir Thomas Aston, for the Liverpool
election, which was heard at the Bar, and proceeded half way only.
They determined on a division by the influence of Sir Robert
Walpole, who laboured strongly for Brereton, that one hundred
and seventy young men who polled for Brereton after the Court
was broke up and the Mayor had left it, but whose names were
taken by a clerk of Mr. Brereton's, had a right to vote, supposing
they had a right to their freedom, and so Brereton will have a
majority of seventy or some such number over Sir Thomas. The
old members protested they never saw anything so unfair, for that
members of a Corporation, though they have a right, whether by
marriage, service or birth, to their freedom, yet they ought not
to vote till they had actually taken out their freedom, which it was
not pretended they had done. Mr. Cornwall, who stayed it out,
said the Court carried it by two hundred and thirty-five against
one hundred and fifteen, but others told me they were only one
hundred and twenty against ninety-eight.

Friday, (1 — To-day Cousin Fortrey dined with me. I had my
concert in the evening. Sir Jo. Evelyn, Mr. Cornwall, my brother
Percival and his family, Mr Temple and his lady, Mrs. Minshull,
Cousin Southwell, Mrs. Humphreys and her son and daughter,
Mr. Clerk, etc., were at it.

This day the House agreed to the report of the Committee of
Elections in favour of Clavering, the sitting member, against Sir
John Guise without any debate.

Saturday, 7 March. — Confined still at home. Cousin Fortrey
dined mth us.

Sunday, 8. — Prayers and sermon at home.

Monday, 9. — Stayed likewise at home. Mr. Barecroft and
Dr. Couraye dined with me. In the evening brother Parker, Dering
and Cousin Southwell came to see me, as also brother Percival.
The Bishop of Killala came to take his leave, going for Ireland.

Tuesday, 10. — Stayed at home. I heard this day that the
Committee on the state of the nation was this day in an enquiry

78 DIARY OF THE

Mar. 10-17
on the island of St. Lucia, and that a motion was made for
addressing the King to assert the kingdom's claim thereto at the
French Court, but that on a division of two hundred and thirty-
four against one hundred and twenty-two, it was carried to defer
the consideration of this affair till more papers should be brought
in, by a vote that the Chairman should leave the chair. That the
House agreed to the India Company's proposal for a prolongation
of their term, and that some proceeding was made in Mr. Loyd's
election against Powell.

Wednesday, 11 March. — This morning Colonel Schutz acquainted
me that the House did yesterday close the Committee on the state
of the nation, which I could scarce believe, till IVIr. Schutz, his
brother, who dined here, told me the same. He added that the
Tories are hastening out of town, and very angry that they were
brought up under a notion that very great matters were to appear
against the Ministry, wliich have ended in molehills.

My brother Parker acquainted me that Sir Charles Wager
informed him of a memorial offered to be put into his hands by
Mr. Edgberry in favour of-Philipson, with desire that he would
give it to Sir Robert Walpole ; but that Sir Charles had refused
to meddle in it. Sir Charles did not tell him all it contained, only
that much was said of Philipson's long services, and that he had
a son who was well qualified to be chosen member this time for
Harwich, and would have succeeded if Sir Robert Walpole had
not interposed by recommending my brother Parker and me.
Sir Philip asked him if there were no other merits suggested in the
memorial, and particularly that he had merited in opposing
Sir Philip and me, but Sir Charles made no reply. That this last
suggestion is part of the memorial I was assured by Mr. Cornwall,
who promised me to procure me a copy of the memorial, which,
when I get, I shall make good use of, in showing his disobedience to
the King's pleasure, who gave me the influence he has in that town
to help me at my election.

Thursday, 12. — Not venturing yet to stir abroad, I wrote to
the Speaker to excuse my absence on the call of the House appointed
for this day : it seems the call was put off.

Friday, 13 March. — Stayed still at home. Colonel Schutz and his
wife supped here.

Saturday, 14. — Stay'd all day at home.

Sunday, 15. — Went out for the first time. Went to Court,
where the King spoke to me. Visited Mr. Clerk. In the evening
went to St. James's Chapel. Visited Sir Edmond Bacon and
Mr. Jo. Temple.

Monday, 16. — Visited Duke of Argyle, Lord Grantham, Mr.
Horace Walpole, brother Percival, Mr. Cornwall. Went to the House
but could not stay it out. Went to the Gaol Committee, where
several depositions were made of villainous practices of Acton,
the deputy gaoler of the Marshalsea, to stifle evidence against
him at his trial, particularly that he procured a material evidence
to be sent to Newgate for a pretended robbery, who, after Acton's
trial was over, got his liberty without any prosecution. In the
evening visited Mr. Southwell and Cousin Le Grand. The House
this day ordered the Pension Bill to be engrossed without any
opposition. The Lord Grantham told me the King was warmly
against it, and that the Lords are to throw it out. I replied it

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 79

1729-30.

was a reasonable Bill, and I thought even for the King's service,
in easing him of applications for pensions. He said the world
is so corrupt that men will not act honestly wdthout them. I said
I knew none in our House had pensions, that I detested them
who have, and should be ashamed to have it thought that I would
not serve my King and country without pay. That this Bill is
not entirely new, but only to render effectual former Acts against
pensions that have been eluded. Besides, if it be so necessary to
pension members, there was still a way to recompence them, not-
withstanding this Act, namely at the end of the session to give such
corrupt people a sum of money at once, as I remembered in Ireland
that one Eccles had constantly at the end of every session fifty
pounds. My Lord told me that Mr. Arnold Sansom, the new
commissary of the packets at Harwich, had directions to comply
with me in everything for supporting my brother Parker's interest
and mine there, which I told him I doubted not of, havuig received
from him since his going down a very civil letter ; that I hoped
we should render it a very loyal borough, and that my brother
Parker's sin had been that he always laboured to bring in well
affected people and keep out disaffected. He said Mr. Carteret
has ever since the removal of Philipson looked very sour and dogged
on him, but he did not care. I replied when men act a just and
honest part, as his Lordship had done, resentment was not to be
minded.

Tuesday, 17 March. — To-day I visited Sir Robert Walpole
to thank him for sending to enquire after my health when I was
ill. He told me Sir Philip Parker had spoke to him to recommend
my brother Dering to the King for some advancement in his name
and mine, and promised me he would, though he never was so troubled
and encumbered with applications as at this time, and the more
so that now the salt dut}'' is to be taken off, there are five com-
missioners to be provided for at such employments that there does
not fall five such in a year ; that he did not say this to discourage
me, or for pretence that he would not speak to the King as we
desire, but to show the difficulties there are to get anything ; that
if he had a thousand employments he could give them, and wished
he had as many ; that he wished Mr. Dering would look out some-
thing himself. I answered him I knew he must be much encum-
bered ; that if he had more employments to give I believed he would
give them well and with pleasure ; that all we desired was a general
recommendation to the King as a deserving person of some better
thing.

I then returned the visits of Sir Thomas Hanmer, Mr. Ferguson,
the two Schultz, young ^Ir. Southwell, and Sir John Evelyn.
Then went to the House, where the Bill against loans to foreign
Princes was read, and one of the clauses opposed by the discon-
tented Whigs as injurious to trade. On a division we carried it,
one hundred and seventy-six against seventy. I then left the
House and came home to dinner. After which I went to the opera,
where I met Mr. Clerk, who in conversation told me that
Lord Grantham had spoke himself to the King about turning
Philipson out, and on that occasion told his Majesty that there
was not in England a man that loved him better or so well as I,
nor an honester man ; that others made greater professions, but
were not so sincere, and he wished his Majesty had about him

(

80 DIARY OF THE

Mar. 17-19
persons of as great fidelity as I. That the King's reply was, he
knew I loved him, and there should be no words he would be sparing
in to make me sensible that he himself was assured of it,

Wednesday, 18. — To-day I visited Dr. Couraye, Mr. Fisher, and
Mr. Le Grand, Lord Forbes, and Sir Pierce Mead. Then went to
the House, where the engrossed Bill against pensions was read
the third time and passed. Mr. Will. Pulteney made a speech
upon the importance of the Bill, and wished the whole House
would for greater solemnity attend the Speaker with it to the
Lords. He hinted that otherwise there was danger of the Lords
letting it drop (as is indeed the intention), but this hint was given
ironically, for he said it was a Bill of so much virtue, that the
whole bench of Bishops would certainly be for it, whose unanimity
in all things that concerned the good of their country, and whose
learning, gravity, and religion was conspicuous to all. Mr. Pelham,
Secretary at War, replied : he wondered a gentleman Avho knew
order so well would debate the Bill after it was passed ; that his
wish that the House should attend the Speaker with it, obliged
him to declare that he did not think the Bill deserved it, nay, if it
were proper now, he would undertake to show it a Bill of very
bad tendency, but he must be silent on that head, and would only
take notice of the reflections cast on a whole bench of the other
House, which he thought very unjust and unbecoming.

Sir Robert Walpole then got up, and said he hoped he should
be indulged, though it was very irregular, to say his thoughts
against the Bill, since Mr. Pulteney had run such encomiums on it.
He gave the history of the several oaths the members of Parhament
are obliged to take ; that the House had always sho^^Ti a reluctance
to establishing new oaths ; that even the abjuration oath went
down with difficulty, and had not passed but that occasion was
given for it by the assassination plot ; that besides the unreasonable-
ness of the present oath in question, it was putting the security
of members not taking a reward from their Prince, if he should
be inclined to give it, for their fidelity to him, on the same foot
with the security the present Eang has for enjoying the Crown
he wears, which he thought an unequal way of proceeding. That
as to the Bishops, they were as learned, loyal, and pious set of men
as ever adorned their bench, and if they had any fault, it was
that they despised the clamours of non-jurors, Jacobites, and High
Churchmen, and relinquished those odious doctrines which tended
to weaken his Majesty's title to the Crown.

Mr. Pulteney replied. He wondered he should always be thought
to mean reflections, and to be in jest, and Sir Robert always serious.
He declared he was now very serious, and from his heart allowed
^e reverend Bishops had not only godliness but everything that
could be said of godliness, everything that belonged [to] it. At
which the House laughed, and several members whispered, he
meant the proverb, " Godliness is gain." He added as the King
was judged to be secure by the oaths of the Parliament, so he
hoped the subject would also be secure by this new oath, and
he was not afraid to own that he thought the security of the subjects'
liberties was of equal value as securing this or any King's
reign.

Sir William Young said he was in a manner called up to give
his testimony against this Bill, which he did not like from the

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 81

1729-30.

beginning, and therefore should oppose the great countenance

Mr. Pulteney wished might be given it.

Then Mr. Heathcote made a studied speech in favour of the
Bill, and said many general things against pensions and corrupt
Ministries. The debate dropped after he had spoken, and Mr. Sands
was ordered to carry the Bill to the Lords. After this,
Mr. Winnington made a motion for closing the Committee. He
said it was usual before the end of a session to determine the hearing
of elections ; that there are still two that must be heard, and
though the closing the Committee would fall hard on some particular
petitioner, yet that was a thing unavoidable.

Sir Wilfrid Lawson opposed the motion, and said the closing
Committees in this manner and so early before the House was
prorogued, was a new custom introduced by Mr. Winnington
himself ; that it was a great hardship on gentlemen, session after
session, to bring up their witnesses, and be debarred from making
out their right to sit in the House. I left the House while he
debated, and came home to dinner. The secret of this is that
Sir Will. Cothrington, a petitioner for Minehead, is not agreeable
to Court, and the Ministry are desirous to keep in Mr. Fra.
Whitworth, against whom Sir William petitions.

After dinner, my brother Parker called and acquainted us that
Sir Robert Walpole had faithfully discharged his promise and
spoke to the King in favour of my brother Dering for some advance-
ment, the Queen being present. That he was surprised to find both
their Majesties so gracious and well disposed in my brother's
favour, and was in pain to find out who it was had been beforehand
with the King and prepared him so well. That the Queen expressed
an esteem for Sir Philip and me, but disowned anybody had spoke
in favour of my brother Dering to her ; which is a thing to be
noted, for I myself had spoke twice strongly to her, and so had
the Prince and Princess Royal, which perhaps her Majesty forgot.

In the evening I went to a concert of music at Captain Mercer's.

Thursday, 19 March. — This morning I visited my cousin Percival
of Westminster, the Bishop of St. David's and the Bishop of Gloster.
The last (Dr. Wilcox) used arguments against the Pension
Bill passed our House the day before. He said it was reasonable
that gentlemen who are at an expense in procuring themselves to
be elected in order to be in a capacity to serve their King and
country, should have their charges be repaid by the Crown, and
objected to the multiplication of oaths. Nothing was easier than
to answer him and show the danger our Constitution is in from
our members receiving private pensions. His little son came in,
who is about seven years old, and had a cake in his hand. The
Bishop asked him before me what the Queen said to him. The
child replied that she hoped to see him a bishop. I asked him
which he liked best, his cake or a bishopric ? He answered that
which brought most money. The Bishop laughed, as if he had
said a pretty thing. I held my tongue, but thought him finely
educated. I afterwards went to the House, where the Loan Bill
was read the third time, and when the question was put for passing.
Captain Vernon and others who cried " No," observing the House
to be thin and the Ministry not there, suddenly got up and called
for a division. It was a surprise, and not a fair procedure, though
strictly Parliamentary. However, the "Ayes" who went out

Wt. 24408. E 6

82 DIARY OF THE

March 19-21
were eighty-four, and the " Noes " who stayed in but sixty-six,
so we carried it. Then Mr. Sands took the Pension Bill to carry
up to the House of Lords, and to show respect to it all we who were
present and approved it attended him, to the number of one hundred
and six. The Lords immediately ordered it to be read, and several
of us stayed to hear what the Lords would say upon it. After it
was read, my Lord To^Aiisend got up and said he did not intend to
give his reasons now against the Bill, reservmg himself for that
to the second reading, which he moved might be on Saturday next,
but in general he would declare to their Lordships that it was in
his opinion the most monstrous and unheard of attempt in the
House of Commons that ever was loiown. That it tended to sub-
vert the whole Constitution, and throw all power into the House of
Commons ; that the Commons already were in possession of giving
the money, and now they would have the whole disposal of it.
That the King's prerogative and their Lordships' privileges were
destroyed by this Bill, and therefore as a good subject, as a Peer, as
an Englishman, who would oppose it. There is not surely a worse
speaker for form, grace, and poorness of matter than this Lord.

Lord Bat hurst answered him, and said he could not imagine
how preventing corruption in the House of Commons could be
deemed a subversion of the Constitution ; he thought it the only
means to preserve it. Our ancestors thought so, and former Acts
are still subsisting that make it penal to accept of pensions ; this
Act only remedies the evasion of those Acts. That if Lord Townsend
believed this Act threw greater power into the Commons than
they have already, he would propose an Act of like nature to
prevent pensions in the House of Lords, and then he hoped their
Lordships would keep pace with the Commons in strengthening
their power. He was answered by Lord Islay and Lord Trevor
on the Court side, who declared it was a monstrous Bill, but would
give no reasons, and by the Earl of Peterborough, who said the
Act did not declare that the members of the Commons House had
pensions, and therefore he did not see the occasion of this Act.
Lord Bathurst was supported by the Earl of Ailsfdrd, Lord
Willoughb}^ Earl of Abingdon and Strafford. It being
determined to give the Bill a second reading on Saturday, as has
been mentioned, the Earl of Ailsford moved that a list of pensions
made be addressed for to lie upon the table, as being very necessary
for their Lordships' information when the Bill should be debated.
Lord Townsend opposed it, as having no relation to the Bill. Lord
Abingdon replied he thought nothing could have a nearer relation
to a Pension Bill than pensions, and he was surprised the list desired
should be refused. That the motion was entirely Parliamentary,
and had never been refused before. The Duke of Newcastle said
he was against addressing for a Ust, because it would make the
world think there were unjustifiable pensions granted, and that
the Bill was founded on some knowledge upon enquiry of that
nature. Lord Abingdon replied, he was sure if this list was refused,
that the world would much more justly think that irregular pensions
have been granted, and that there was a necessity for passing
the Bill. To the same purpose spoke the Earl of Strafford,
Lord Willoughby and others. Lord Townsend replied he would
not oppose the obtaining a list of pensions granted, if asked at
another time and on another occasion, but at present he thought

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 83

1729-30.

it improper, because it gave countenance to a monstrous Bill.
Lord Falmouth said the Bill was to be read a second time on
Saturday, and he saw not of what service addressing for a list of
pensions could be in their debates, because he thought it impossible
for the clerks to transcribe the list in that short time, and therefore
he moved the previous question might be put, whether the question
for such an address should stand. Lord Strafford said he did
not conceive the number of pensions were so many ; if they were
he was sorry for it, there was the greater reason to enquire into
them. But surely they could not be more numerous than the
half-pay officers, of whom a list being demanded one day, was
delivered in the next. Lord Townsend concluded the debate by
desiring the previous question might be put. And accordingly
it was, and passed, 83 against 30.

After this I went to the Lower House to the election of Liverpool,
and stayed till half an hour after three, when Sir Edward Kjiatchbull
came home with me to dinner, and then I returned to the House,
which broke up about seven, having gone through the examination
of the several votes in Mr. Brereton's subsequent lists, among
whom several were proved false, some under age, others totally
unqualified, some out of the kingdom at the time their names were
writ down in Mr. Brereton's poll. The next thing to go on was
the list of paupers who voted for Sir Thomas Aston and for
Brereton. Mr. Brereton had agreed with Sir Thomas that nineteen
on the latter side and twelve on the former should be struck out,
but to-day refused to stand to his agreement. The House therefore
were obliged to go through this list, but it being late put off the
further hearing to Saturday next.

Friday, 20 March. — ^This morning I visited Mr. Bagnall, and
went from thence to Court ; dined at home. Li the evening had
my concert of music. Mr. Man, Cousin Le Grand, Lady Mary
Cooly, Lord Hambleton, Lady Peasly, Lady Bathurst and her
daughters, brother Parker, Mr. Cornwall, brother Bering and
sister. Dr. Couraye, Mr. Barecroft, etc., were there. At night was
sent me two copies of affidavits, under a cover containing printed
depositions of George Colcott and Robert Jones, two of the witnesses
produced by Sir William Wyndham at the Bar of the House upon
the Dunkirk affair, wherein it appears that Mr. Will. Pulteney,
Daniel Pulteney, Sir William Wyndham, and a tall thin young
gentleman, which is understood to be Mr. Sands, had a meeting
with Lord Bolingbroke to prosecute the enquiry into the worl^
carrying on at Dunkirk, to which meeting they convened the
deponents and other witnesses who appeared at the Bar, and
promised them encouragement to give evidence. These packets
were given to every member at the door, and sent to the
houses of absent members, by Sir Robert Walpole's orders as
supposed.

Saturday, 2L — This morning I designed to go to Counsellor
Annesley, and carry with me the grant of King Charles the First
to old Captain John Barry for erecting Liscarroll into a manor,
as also my father's ^vill by which he settled a jointure on my mother,
for which jointure there had passed nothing but articles, by reason
my father was under age when he married, and by the will it appears
he never executed the intent of those articles by making a settlement,
but provided for it by his will. But I dared not venture out for

84 DIARY OF THE

Mar. 21-25
fear of the return of my cold, of which I found some symptoms,
and therefore resolved to stay at home and bleed.

My son came home in the evening from the House of Lords,
and brought me word they had rejected the Pension Bill. The
question was put whether it should be committed, and it was carried
against, eighty-six to thirty-one, after which the question for
rejecting it was put, and no opposition made. The Lords who
spoke to it were Lord Trevor, Peterborough, Islay, Macclesfield
and the Duke of Newcastle on one side for not comndtting, and
Lord Bathurst, Foley, Strafford, Ailsford and Abingdon for com-
mitting. Lord Trevor said the Bill was dubiousl}^ worded, and
that part, particular!}^ relating to places held in trust, might
comprehend the having any place ; that rewards and punishments
were the foundations of all Government, and this Bill took them
away ; that this increased the practice of taking oaths, which is
already too frequent. Lastly, that those men who w,ould betray
their country in Parliament for a bribe would certainly have no
scruple about breaking their oath.

Lord Bathurst inveighed against corruption, and said that the
House of Commons are certainl^^ better acquainted with their
own condition than the Lords could be, and the Commons had
thought this Bill necessary. That if the Bill passed the King would
have more of his Civil List to spare to increase the revenues of
the Bishops and make them all Canterbury's and Durham's, as
likewise to restore the decayed families of the nobility.

Duke of Newcastle said it was a reflection on the King to
suppose he had bribed the House of Commons, and that the
Commons bringing in such a Bill was a strong proof of their not
being corrupted.

Lord Peterborough said that he was against the Bill, because he
thought it would not have the desired effect, for the King would
only defer paying a member till the Parliament ended. That he
was too good a Protestant to oblige anybody to confess, not even
to the reverend Bishops, much less to one another, but this Bill
was to oblige the members to confess to each other whether they
had pensions.

Lord Islay run through the whole Bill, and endeavoured to
expose it with some art, but no argument. He spoke above an
hour.

Lord Macclesfield (who has lately recovered his pension of
fifteen hundred pounds per annum), said that the Bill affected the
privileges of their Lordships' House, for if a Peer should have a
son in the House of Commons who should refuse the oath prescribed
in the Bill, it incapacitated him, as he thought, from ever sitting
in the House of Lords.

Lord Abingdon said tliat if he had a son, who should refuse
that oath, he should desire his son might have that fate.

I was to-day well assured that Sir Charles Hotham is gone to
Prussia to propose the double marriage so long talked of.

Sunday, 22 March. — I was still confined at home by my cold.
My brother Parker came in the morning, and said he had been at
Chelsea with Sir Robert Walpole to talk over my brother Dering's
affair ; that Sir Robert received liim very kindly, and assured
him that when at the Prince's coming over we applied to him to
speak that my brother Dering should be about him, he actually

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 85

1721)-30.

set him down in his list to the King for that purpose. My brother
Parker found he wanted to loiow by what canal we had worked
to prepare the King to favour my brother, whereupon my brother
Parker answered, by no great man whatever. That I had spoke
twice to the Queen, and had alwaj^s been well with his Majesty
from the time of the quarrel in the late King's reign, when I stuck
by the Prince and forbore going to the King's Court ; that
Sir Robert himself owned he had spoke to the present King in my
brother Bering's favour, and therefore it was no surprise that the
King should be favourably inclined. That we desired to owe my
brother Bering's advancement to himself, and might be assured
he would always behave himself x^ith honour and a due regard
to him for his patronage. Sir Robert beat a little about the bush
concerning my brother Bering's intimacy with the Prince, and
said Sir Philip might remember that the late King did not like
that his son should be preferred to him. That my Jbrother Bering
had some who had done him ill offices, and little people were too
busy ; that when once men were in a wrong track, continuing in it
made it worse and worse. In conclusion, he called for his pen and
ink, and x\ rote my brother Bering's name down for a memorandum,
saying he would speak speedily to the King : so we conclude my
brother will get an advance.

Mr. Forster and brother and sister Bering dined here.
Forster promised to see Mr. Metcalf, solicitor of the Customs,
to-morrow about letting Russet out of prison, who has lain there
now five weeks since the King signed an order for a 7ioli prosequi.

Monday, 23. — To-day I was told that Sir William Wyndham *
and Will. Pulteney stifl}^ deny their meeting with Lord Bolingbroke
to concert the Bunkirk affair, though swore against them as
mentioned before. Kept still at home for my cold, which turns
more to a sore throat. I writ to Mr. Glanville, a member of our
House, to excuse my attending a Law Bill he has brought in, and
which I promised to speak to.

Tuesday, 24. — Stayed still at home. Br Couraye dined with
me. In the evening Sir Thomas Aston sent to desire I would come
down to the House to his election, which is to be determined this
night, and is made a great point. I sent him word I was sorry
I could not venture out, and hoped he would carry it.

Wednesday, 25 March, 1730. — To-day I heard the House sat on
Sir Thomas Aston's election till eleven last night, when Brereton's
friends perceiving it would go against him, moved to adjourn the
debate, but Sir Thomas's friends carried it for proceeding, one
hundred and twenty against ninety -nine. Upon this the adverse
party crowded awa}' , and the main question that Sir Thomas was
duly elected passed without opposition. Sir Robert Walpole
stayed till the division was over, in order to influence the House for
Brereton, but he found there are certain occasions where he cannot
carry points ; it is this meanness of his (the prostitution of the
character of a first Minister in assisting and strenuously supporting
the defence of dunghill worms, let their cause be ever so unjust,
against men of honour, birth, and fortune, and that in person too),
that gains him so much ill-will ; formerly, when the first Minister
appeared in any matter, he did it with gravit}^ and the honour
and service of the Crown appeared to be concerned, but Sir Robert,
like the altars of refuge in old times, is the asylum of little unworthy

86 DIARY OF THE

March 25-26
wretches who, submitting to dirty work, endear themselves to
him, and get his protection first, and then his favour, which as he
is first IMinister, is sure to draw after it the countenance of the
Court ; ill the meantime, the world, who know the insignificancy,
to say no worse, of these sort of tools, are in indignation to see
them preferred and cherished beyond men of character and fortune,
and set off in a better light to the King, and this with men of small
experience, which are the bulk of a nation, occasions hard thoughts
of the Crown itself ; whereas in very deed the King can seldom
know the merits and character of private persons but from the
first Minister, who Ave see has no so great regard for any as for these
little pickthanks and scrubs, for whom he risks his character, and
the character of his high station, in opposition to the old gentry of
the kingdom, and that in matters of right and wrong, in the face of
his country, namely, in Parliament. It appeared to the House that
the subsequent list of voters, by this Brereton produced at the
Bar of the House, and by which he pretended he had a legal
majority over Sir Thomas Aston, was a very scandalous and false
list, made up of persons that had no right to vote, some being under
age, others never having demanded their freedom, others
personating dead men, and others such as were at the time of
the election out of the kingdom, yet when this appeared plainly
to the House, and Sir Robert found Brereton unable to maintain
his cause, he yet argued for him, and was for adjourning the debate
to another day, in hopes Avithout doubt to rally all the placemen
and pensioners, if time were allowed to vote Brereton in.

I was informed that Mr. Will Pulteney and Sir William Wyndham
used that day very indecent and unusual expressions in the House
against Sir Robert Walpole on occasion of the affidavits formerly
mentioned, wherein Colcott and Jones swore that those two gentle-
men met Lord Bolingbroke on the Dunkirk affair. Pulteney and
Sir William having been taxed with this by Sir Robert in that
long debate touching Dunkirk the 27th of last month, then purged
themselves of it, by protesting on their honour that they did not
meet him on that occasion, and that he was not present at their
consultations, and these affidavits were afterwards published
to hurt their reputations by showing they had solemnly affirmed
an untruth to the House. This day therefore, they took an oppor-
tunity to clear themselves, and did it with such resentment against
Sir Robert, that they said whoever procured those affidavits or
any way were instrumental in them were rascals and villains ;
they hoped the procurer of them was then in the House and heard
them, and pronounced him, whoever he was, a rogue and scoundrel.
There being many strangers in the gallery, they could not be called
to the bar for indecent language against any member of the House,
though everybody knew who they meant ; however, the Speaker
rose in his chair, and expressed himself with great warmth at the
words cast forth, and at the irregularity of speaking things so
foreign to the debate, which ought to be confined to the subject
matter of the election, and he ended Avith saying he would die in
the chair rather than suffer such things ; whereupon Will Pulteney
said he believed he would die in the chair if he could, meaning,
I suppose, that he liked the honour and profit of being Speaker.

Sir Robert Walpole coolly rephed, that if those gentlemen directed
their discourse to him he was not concerned, and would not take

FIRST Viscount percival. ^7

1730.

it to liiniself, for he had no hand in the framing, encouraging or
pubhshing these affidavits ; he owned he saw them in manuscript,
and observing they were sworn before a Justice of Peace of small
reputation, advised they should be sworn before a person of better
figure, Sir Jo. Gunson, Chairman of the Sessions, and that was
all the hand he had in them.

The general talk now is that Lord Carteret, when he returns
from Ireland, will be made Lord President of the Council, the
Duke of Newcastle Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Mr. Henry Pelham
Secretar}' of State in his room, and Lord Harrington Secretary of
State in Lord Townsend's room.

Li the evening. Cousin Southwell and brother Parker and Dering
came to see me. This Thomas Brereton above mentioned is the
son of an ordinary fellow who kept an ale-house m Chester, and
may, for what I know, be still living. Bemg bred to clerkship
under an attorney, he was by Sir Richard Grosvenor advanced to
an employment of about one hundred pounds a year, in return
for which he opposed the Grosvenor family in their elections in
Cheshire. Afterwards he married a widow of some substance,
and emploj^mg her money in Southsea, advanced his fortunes.
Then delivering himself over to this Lord Malpas, he was an agent
for him in elections and a busy runner, and under his countenance
got to be elected this Parliament for Liverpool, and when in the
House gave himself to be entirely to be the slave of Sir Robert
Walpole, and was made use of in the little job works of the House,
such as carrying and bringing messages and whispers to and from
the members, for securing their votes on particular questions, etc.
For this Sir Robert procured him an employment of about five
hundred a year, on which occasion his place in Parliament being
void, there was a necessity for a new election. He stood, and
Sir Thomas Aston having a fair majorit}^ on the poll, the Mayor
returned him, and now Brereton became a jJetitioner.

Thursdaj^ 26 March. — I visited Sir Thomas Aston, Lord Bathurst,
Lord Palmerston, Mr. Temple liis brother, Lord Lonsdale and
Mr. Lowther. Went to the House, where Mr. Sands' Bill for a work-
house at Worcester being committed, Mr. Winrdngton moved for
an instruction for a clause that no attorney should be a governor
of it, which Sir Joseph Jekyl opposed as being a reflection on an
honourable profession. Mr. Winrdngton replied it was no more
reflection than to exclude them from being overseers of the land tax,
which is constantly done, because if they were let into the manage-
ment of people's property, they would be sure to set them together
by the ears. We divided on it ; the " Ayes " who went out were
ninety-two, the " Noes " who stayed in were one hundred and
eleven. So we lost it. Several other Bills were read, and some
committed. The African Bill was one. The House adjourned
to this day sennit. I dined late at home, and so passed the rest
of the evening. Sir Edmond Bacon came to see me ; he is an
attached servant to Sir Robert Walpole, who upon his being a
member of Parliament procured him a grant for a term of years
of certain lighthouses worth five hundred pounds a year. He
pretended that, notwithstanding the affidavits formerly mentioned,
Lord Bolingbroke was actually in company with Sir William
Wyndham and Mr. Pulteney on the DunJdrk affair. He said he
voted for Brereton, who by this mis-carriage and the expense

88 DIARY OF THE

March 26-31
of the petition is half an undone man. He owned he had deceived
Sir Robert Walpole by representing his case wrong and more in
his favour than it came out. I would not open myself to him,
but I could not help wondering wh}^ if it was so, he still voted for
him.

Friday, 27. — This being Good Friday, I went to chapel, and
again in the afternoon. My brother Dering came in and said
the Prince had sent to him in the morning at nine o'clock to desire
he would come to him ; that he found him a-bed, and acquainted
him with a scheme he had of providing for him by an employment
he hoped would fall and was immediately in his own gift ; that
without consulting anybody he would in that case confer it on
him, and afterwards acquaint their Majesties that it was given
him. He was exceeding gracious to him, and when he took his
leave and kist his hand on his going to Bath, the Prince said to
him, " Take notice you kiss my hand for this place."

Saturday, 28. — This morning I visited brother Parker, and
went to Court. Dined with brother Dering, and in the evening
went to chapel. At night brother Parker and Counsellor Forster
came to me, to tell me Russel's affair was before the Attorney
General.

Sunday, 29 March, Easter Day. — Communicated this morning
at the chapel. Went in the evening again.

Monday, 30 March. — This morning called upon Mr. Oglethorp
and IVIr. Cornwall. Lord Wilmington came to see me. We talked
freely about Brereton's petition and hearing, about the affidavits of
Colcott and Jones, and votes of credit. He said there never was
known such a thing before that a House of Commons should allow
of a poll taken by any but the proper officer, and that it had been
very proper to have taken into custody Mr. Brereton's clerk,
who took that poll of false voters in his master's favour. He said
that positively my Lord Bolingbroke was not at the meeting with
Sir William Wyndham, but was then out of town, and bid me
read over again those affidavits, and I should find neither Colcott
nor Jones swear anything material, so artful is that paper dra^\Ti
as to appear to be an affidavit throughout, whereas there is no
part of it is so but towards the end.

I asked him if he had heard anything of votes of credit. He
answered. No ; on the contrary, that the Ministry declared there
should be none asked for this Session. I said it would come very
unseasonably after their lordships rejecting our Pension Bill.
He expressed himself much against votes of credit, and told me
the first given by the House was when he was Speaker, and though
it was moved for on an urgent occasion, namely the Swedish
invasion, to repel which there was a sudden and immediate occasion
for money, yet his Lordship, when it was in the Committee, spoke
against it, and it was there carried but by fifteen, as it was after-
wards in the House but by four. That being a novelty, and a
very ill precedent, it was his duty as Speaker to oppose it, and
that it was remarkable all the members who had in their times
been Speakers opposed it, as John Smith and Mr. Bromley, who
both spoke against it, and Sir Thomas Hanmer, who though he
spoke not, which he was blamed for, yet voted against it. That it
was then but for two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and
since has risen to five hundred thousand pounds.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 89

1730.

He said he would acquaint me with the history of the Abjuration
Oath, which no history has or Avill mention, and will be forgot.
That it was the present Lord Bolingbroke, then Mr. St. John, and
Sir Charles Hedges, then fresh turned out from being Secretary of
State, and therefore disobliged by King William, who moved
for the Bill to abjure the Pretender by oath. That the Court and
Whigs were not for it, but the Tories passed it. That the Whigs,
not able to hinder the passing that Bill, were against maldng the
oath obligatory on all, but proposed a clause for leaving it voluntary
and to the libertj^ of the subject whether to take it or not, but the
Tories were for enacting it general and obligatory on all. That
parties were at that time so equal, and this matter thought of so
great consequence, that it was a very full House the day of debating
it, above two hundred members of a side, and at last carried but
by one. That himself was then in Parliament, but sick and could
not attend, otherwise he had been with the Whigs and voted against
the Bill, which would have lost it. That ha\dng passed both
Houses, the Kong being in his last sickness, sent Commissioners
to pass it in his name, and the next day died. And then, said
my Lord, I was with the rest of the Whigs heartily glad the Act
passed, and the Tories heartily sorry.

I promised to dine with his Lordship at Chiswick next Saturday.

Mr. St. Lenger came to see me, and upon his promising to hold
no more Courts of the lands of Liscarroll, purchased of me by his
father, I promised not to oblige his tenants to attend my Court,
so this dispute to the title of the lordship of the manor is over.
I told him that at last Crone had filed a Bill against Crofts for to
make him shew cause why he detains his acres from him, which
I hoped would bring that long dispute to a short issue. He said
Crofts was willing to restore the plus acres, but he hoped I would
make good the arrears due from said Crofts to himself. I said
that was not reasonable : for he had a remedy against his own
tenant to recover arrears, but I had not, nor had I anything to
do with arrears due from his tenant to him. He said that if his
tenant was not able to pay those arrears, he ought not to lose them.
I said he could oblige his tenant one way or other to do it, and he
had the benefit of these plus acres all the time. He said Crofts
was an honest, industrious, poor man, and once offered to surrender
his lease to be quit of the lawsuit threatened by Crone against him,
and then things had done well, but afterwards Crofts refused.
I answered that probably since Crofts saw Crone in earnest against
him, he would now return to the same mind. He desired to bring
his attorney to-morrow or next day, to peruse mj^ marriage settle-
ment, and that of my father, for satisfaction to see whether there
is an occasion for my passing a new fine and recovery for securing
his father's purchase, and I promised to shew them.

I afterwards went to Court, where the Queen asked me again
about Dr. Couraye. In the evening I went to our weekly concert.

Tuesday, 31 March. — This morning Mr. St. Lenger came with
a lawyer, and perused my father's will, by which he found I was
left tenant in tail, and likewise perused my marriage settlement,
by which he found the lands of Liscarrol are no part of what I
settled on my wife or eldest son, or are mentioned in the settlement.
Whereupon the lawyer told Mr. St, Lenger that as I had suffered
a recovery when I came of age, which was sufficient, without

90 DIARY OF THE

Mar. 31-April 5
levying a fine, to dock the entail and enable me to sell my estate,
and as Liscarrol is not in my marriage settlement, he had reason
to be satisfied with his title to Liscarrol, and had nothing further
to do than to examine in the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland
whether I did suffer the recovery as I said I had. And Mr. St.
Lenger exprest himself satisfied.

In the evening, Mr. St. Hyacinth came and acquainted me that
he is obliged to let fall liis design of publishing an extract of all
foreign journals of literature for want of subscriptions, and must
also sell his books by auction, and quit his shop, not being able
to carry on his business, which I was sorry to hear, because of
the learning, merit, and industry of the man, and that he has a
family.

Wednesdaj^ 1 April. — I called on Mr. Oglethorp, who kept me
three hours and more in explaining his project of sending a colony
of poor and honest industrious debtors to the West Indies b}-
means of a charitable legacy left by one King, a haberdasher, to be
disposed of as his executors should please. Those executors have
agreed that five thousand pounds of the money shall be employed
to such a purpose, and our business is to get a Patent or Charter
for incorporating a number of honest and reputable persons to
pursue tins good work, and as those executors desired the persons
entrusted mth that sum might be annexed to some Trust alread}^
in being, I am desired to consent to admit such as are to manage
that money into my trust for disposing of the legacy left by
Mr. Dalone for converting negroes to Christianity, to which I very
readily have consented, the Lord Chancellor allowing thereof, which
is not to be doubted. Mr. Oglethorp told me that the number
relieved by the last year's Act out of prison for debt are ten
thousand, and that three hundred are returned to take the benefit
thereof from Prussia, many of whom are woollen manufacturers.

I afterwards visited the Bishop of London, to desire a living
near Finchley Common for Mr. Heal, of St, John's College, but
he had disposed of it.

At night I went with my wife and children to " Perseus and
Andromeda."

Thursday, 2. — Went to the House and Gaol Committee.
Cousin Fortrey dined with me.

Friday, 3. — Went to the meeting of the Chelsea Waterworks,
and balloted for a governor and tw^o new directors. We re-chose
Colonel Negus, and chose for directors Mr. Tilson, clerk of the
Treasury, and Mr. Fra. Whitworth, member of Parliament. I
then went to the House, which sat till half an hour after five upon
the Bill for relief of the subject by civil Bills. It had no opposition,
but admitted some alteration. Mr. Parsons, the linen draper, and
Mr. Wickham, of Harwich, dined with me. In the evening was
my concert. There were at it Lord Palmerston, Earl of Shaftesbury,
Mr. Fane, Colonel Middleton, members of our House, Mr. Man,
cousin le Grand, Mr. Southwell, Dr. Couraye, and Mr. Forster,
Lady Palmerston and her daughter. Lady Ramsden and her three
daughters, I^ady Blundell, Mrs. Forster, Sister Percival, Mrs.
Donellan, cousin le Grand and her daughter.

This evening, at two o'clock, died Sir Edward Knatchbull.
He had been two days before in a manner insensible. I believe
he caught his illness the long night that the House sat upon the

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 91

1730.

Dunkirk enquiry, for he then went away fainting about twelve, and
though the fever did not show itself immediately, so that he went
abroad the very next daj^, and continued so to do and to attend
the House, yet he was not right well, and at last fell down about
ten days since. His mother and mine were sisters, and I esteemed
him for his sense and behaviour. He was coming into a good post
when he died, for the Court had an esteem for him, and he latterly
attached himself to Sir Robert Walpole. The King told my wife
this night at the drawing room he was very sorry to hear of his
death. In the Queen's time he was a pretty warm Tory, but
gradually came off from violence. The Tories chose him in the late
King's reign knight of the shire for Kent ; but this Parliament he
missed of it, because his old friends were shy of his inchnation to
side with the Government, and the Whigs declared they would
choose men that had always been staunch to the party and, as
they said, no turncoats ; so Sir Edward was by the help of the
Government chose in Cornwall.

Saturdaj^ 4 April. — This day I went to Chiswick to dine with
m}' Lord Wilmington, where there was only my Lord Chief Baron.
Talking of the Pension Bill, I told his Lordship it was very hard
that the Lords should throw it out without paying us the
civility of desiring a conference. He said the Bill was so
faulty, there was no mending it ; that it had no preamble, and
that as to the pretence of enforcing former laws against pensions,
this Bill did not content itself with doing that, but went a great
deal further in depriving persons from receiving any favour from
his Majesty, and that by an oath not to accept. That nothing
could be harder in that case than the injury it did the Speaker,
who has five pounds a day allowed him by the King for keeping a
table, and a service of plate ; that the five pounds and the plate
are gratuitous though customary ; and if our Bill had passed he
must swear not to accept this gratuity. That it was likewise hard
and unjust to deprive sons of noblemen in case of accepting a place
or gratuity, of the right of sitting in the Lords' House, and that
it took from the King the power of rewarding. He said neverthe-
less he believed the Bill would one time or another pass, but it must
be when we shall be able to ground our Bill upon some fact, some
discovery of mischief arising from persons known to be pensioned.

Talking of my Lord Townsend, he said he had some good notions
with respect to trade, which is the only tiling he talks well of,
for generally he is confused and has not a clear head. One of his
notions mentioned by my Lord with approbation, and which I could
not but relish, is, that the poors tax, notwithstanding a heavy one,
is extremely beneficial to trade, as it is a sort of bounty, or premium,
on the manufacturer, and consequently makes sundry sorts of
our work cheap by beating down the price of labour, for we all
know that as heavy as the poor tax is, the poor are not entirely
supported by it, but they are only helped a little, which small
help, together with their own industry in knitting or spinning
(to apply this to the woollen manufacture) enables them to hve ;
but were it not for what they receive out of the tax abovementioned,
they would not knit or spin for so small wages as they receive
for that work, because they would starve by it.

Sunday, 5 April. — To-day I went to chapel at eight o'clock ;
then to Court, where the Prince, King, and Queen spoke to me.

92 DIARY OF THE

April 5-17
The Queen told me she would send next week to me to bring
Br. Couraye to her ; she bid me (as she had done some days before)
to assure the doctor she would always take care of him, he should
never want. She desired to know what he thought of the King of
France's new ordonnance, and the renewed persecution of the
Jansenists there. I answered he thought him doubly fortunate
to be here in safety, being sure he should be the first man that
would be cruelly dealt b3^ I also thanked her Majesty for her
charitable regard and generosity to him. After dinner T went
again to chapel.

Mondays 6. — To-day I went to the House, where we closed
the Committee of Supply. Dined at home and passed the
evening.

Tuesday, 7. — Went to Charlton.

Thursday, 9. — Returned to London, and found Mr. Baker
Cockerill and Page, of Harwich. Went to Mr. Southwell's, after-
wards to the House, came home to dinner. In the evening went
with my wife to the vocal concert at the Crown, which much diverted
her, though the best voices were absent.

Friday, 10. — Mr. Taylor and Mr. Aspinwall called on me, the
latter touching Lady Dudley's Bill now depending, which, as it
stands, he apprehends may prejudice the interest of Mr. Wogan. I
looked over his jx^tition to be relieved by a clause, or to be heard
against the Bill by counsel, and appointed him to be at the House,
where I would apply to the Speaker for advice. Accordingly I
did, and I showed the Speaker the clause intended for relief, which
he disapproved, because it imported to be relieved not onl}^ out
of the custodium granted to Jones, but out of the whole Wicklow
Estate. I offered to present the petition upon the second reading
of Lady Dudley's Bill this day, but it was thought advisable to
defer doing it, there being time enough, if necessary, between this
and Monday sennit, to which da}^ the Bill stands committed.
In the meanwhile, Mr. Aspinwall hoped to agree matters with
Jones, the custodee, who offered to give Mr. Wogan fifteen hundred
pounds to be acquitted of all demands.

Mr. Bagnall dined with us, and in the evening Mr. Frazer,
IMr. Temple, and brother Parker called in to see me. Mr. Frazer
told me the Prince had lately engaged a mistress in his neighbour-
hood, a Papist, and taken a house and furnished it just over against
her father's ; that her father's name is La Tour, the man in the
playhouse plays the hautboy. That the discourse is the Prince
has bought her for fifteen hundred pounds. I was very sorrj^ to
hear it, and do heartily wish the project of his marriage with the
Princess Royal of Prussia may come to effect, upon which I am
persuaded his Roj^al Highness will forsake this kind of life. This
day, my son surprised me with a discovery that he is the author
of two printed pamphlets published last January. The first
entitled, " Some Remarks upon a Pamphlet entitled a Short View
of the State of Affairs with relation to Great Britain for four years
past." The second entitled, " A Review of a Pamphlet entitled
Observations on the Treaty of Seville examined."

They are the first essays of this kind, and he made me promise
not to acquaint any but my wdfe that he wTote them. He need
not be ashamed of them, and few children at nineteen years old
would have done so well.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 93

1730.

Saturday, 11 April. — To-day I visited at the Duke of Dorset's
and Mr. Southwell's. Went to the Temple to give Mr. Annesley
the deed for augmenting the number of trustees of Dalone's legacy,
which he thinks cannot be done by us five trustees originally
appointed, but by the Master of the Rolls, by bill and answer.
Called at the Crown Office on Mr. Masterman to desire he would
wait on the Attorney General, who had dispatched Russel's affair,
and that he would as soon as possible carry the Attorney General's
warrant to Mr. Medcalf, Solicitor of the Custom House, to discharge
that man.

I went afterwards to the House, and returned to dinner at home
when Mr. Page and Cockerill came and dined with me. At night I
went to the Opera with my wife and children.

Sunday, 12. — Went to morning chapel, afterwards to Court,
where I carried Page of Harwich, with his \^'ife, daughter and
son-in-law, to see the King go to church. The Prince and King
discoursed me, which was a distinction, there being many Blue
Garters and great lords to whom he said nothing. I brought home
the company I carried with me to Court to dinner.

Monday, 13. — Met Mr. Annesley, Mr. Conduit, and Mr. Aspinwall
about Mr. Wogan's affair at Mr. Southwell's, and agreed to present
Mr. Wogan's petition. Went to the House, where Mr. Conduit
presented it accordingly, and I seconded it. !Mr. Cornwall came
home with me to dinner, and found Fabri and Bartoldi, one of
the women singers of the opera, and Mr. August Schutz and his
wife at dinner. This singer, I was told, is a fresh mistress to the
Prince, since La Tour's daughter. The evening was spent in
music.

Tuesday, 14. — I went to Sir Robert Walpole's levee, who told
me he had spoke to the Queen in my brother Dering's favour ; that
she is now very well satisfied, but there had been some ill impressions
given her, and some misapplication, but he had set all right, and
hoped something would be done ; that nothing should be wanting on
his part, and he believed the first thing that fell. I wTit
my brother word of it.

Mr. Clerk, Dr. Couraye, and Brigadier St. Hipohte dined with
me.

Wednesday, 15 April. — To-day I went to the House. After
dinner went to the play with my son.

Thursday, 16. — Went to Mr. le Grand, cousin Southwell, and
Mr. Aspinwall, touching Mr. Wogan's affair ; afterwards to the
House. Brother Parker dined Mith. me ; went in the evening to
a Council of the Royal Society.

Friday, 17. — Did not stir out. Mrs. Middleton and brother and
sister Percival dined with me. In the evening my concert as usual.
There were at it Earl of Grantham, Lord Palmerston, Sir Richard
Mead, Mr. Cornwall, Mr. Le Grand, Mr. Man, Mr. Clerk,
Mr. Doddington, Duchess of Kent, Lady Palmerston, Mrs. Ramsden,
Mrs. Le Grand, Lady Hanmer, sister Percival, Mr. J. Temple and
his daughter. Mr. Tajdor, my daughter. Miss Middleton, and
Mr. Gaillard sung.

Mr. Doddington told me aside it was resolved, and is actually
done, but will not be declared these two days yet, viz. : that the
Duke of Dorset is Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the Lord Trevor
removed from Privy Seal to President of the Council, and which

94 DIARY OF THE

April 17-21
is more important news, Lord Wilmington made Privy Seal, so
that here is the head of the party which opposes Sir Robert Walpole
taken into place. He added, that it is impossible public affairs
can go on at the rate they do, and that the true interest of the nation
is to be well with the Emperor, and not in such a close conjunction
with France. I answered, I hoped he did not mean to unravel all
that we have been doing ; he said " Yes." I replied, " Not up to
the fountain head !" He said, " Not to fall out with France, but
to be cooler with them, and well ^^dth the Emperor." I asked him
how the Dutch were satisfied with the French preparations to march
so great a body of troops towards the Rhine. He said, " They
began to be uneasy." As to Lord Townsend, it is certain he
continues his resolution to quit his employment and retire for
good and all into the country, and all things considered, I believe
Sir Robert Walpole Avill choose to withdraw himself into the House
of Lords, and give way to the torrent. For though the King
supports him as a very capable man to do his business, and surely
I think him the most so, yet it is believed his Majesty has no hearty
and personal love for him, and nothing can be more cutting than
for him to see Lord Wilmington in any post.

My wife was in the morning at the Queen's Court, who has still
the gout, and likes to see a great levee on this occasion : accordingly
there was a vast crowd. She told my wife she had been in a good
deal of pain ; she also told her I had been so kind as to promise
to bring Dr. Couraye to see her this week, for whom she had a
great opinion, but that the gout prevented it, but she hoped to see
him the next week.

Saturday, 18. — ^Visited the Earl of Grantham. Among other
things he told me the Queen did not love the Prince should take
on him to recommend persons for employments ; which explained
to me what Sir Robert Walpole meant when he told me the other
day that there had been some misapplication in favour of my
brother Dering. I told it my Lord Grantham, and he said that
was it. He said the Queen was inconceivably generous and
charitable, and it would amaze me to know how much she gave
away, and those large sums that nobody knew of. I replied,
ostentation was not commendable in any one, but for example
sake a Queen's charity should be like a lighted candle, not set under
a bushel. He of his own accord said he should not forget to speak
for my brother Dering, upon the settling the Prince's family when
he marries. He commended my daughter's singing and playing
and added he wished my children were well married. I answered,
I left that to Providence, who knew better what was fit for them
and would do better than I could ; that I had done my duty in
their education, and should never force them to marry where
they did not like, as I had often promised them, and they had in
return promised to marry nobody I should not approve of. He
said it was what he had told his daughters. He said both King
and Queen had a very good opinion of me.

I afterwards called at Sir Windham Knatchbull's and
Lord Wilmington's, who were not at home ; then went to the House,
and returned to dinner. My wife went in the morning to
Charlton.

Sunday, 19. — Went in the morning to St. James's Chapel.
Afterwards called on Mr. Clerk, and then went to Court, where

FIBST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 95

1730.

the Prince again asked after my brother Dering, and the King
spoke first to me of all the circle, then to the Earl of Seaforth and
Lord Fitzwalter, after which he went in. Dr. Couraye dined
with me. In the evening my brother Parker came in to bid us
adieu, going to Bath ; also old Catalogus Frazer called on me.
He is eighty-four years old, and has his health and memory, sight,
and parts as brisk as when young. There scarce has been published
a book he has not read, or does not know, for which reason the
world have fixed on him the name Catalogus. He is a great searcher
into anecdotes, and a relator of not a few. He is a Presbj^terian,
but not rigid.

Monday, 20. — Mr. Aspinwall called on me to let me know
Mr. Jones had agreed to sign an absolute security to Mr. Wogan
for payment of fifteen hundred pounds, and Mr. Jones let me
know the same at the House afterwards. Mi\ Bagnall and
Mr. Taylor called on me. Went to the House, where the Gaol
Committee were met and examined witnesses touching my Lord
Chief Justice Eyre's visiting Bambridge in Newgate when lodged
there by order of Parliament in order for his trial. The Committee
very justh^ thought it strange that the Judge who was to try
Bambridge should previously repair to prison to hold private
conversation mth him, and resolved to report it to the House.
I said, however, that as we were a Committee appointed to examine
the state of the gaols, I did not see which way we could take cog-
nizance of this affair, unless by bringing it in as an argument why
Bambridge and Acton last year met with so much favourable usage
and escaped upon their trials.

At four o'clock seventeen of the Committee dined together at
the Globe. I left them at six, and went with my ^Wfe and daughter
to our Monday's concert.

Tuesday, 21 April. — To-day I called on Dr. Couraye, he being
ill, and on Mr. Aspinwall touching my brother Dering's intention
of buying one thousand pounds Irish subscription Stock, which
is at five per cent, premium.

Afterwards I visited cousin Southwell, and then went to the
Gaol Committee, where it was agreed to order some witnesses to
attend to-morrow to enquire into Mr. Bambridge's not making out
a list of his prisoners (when removed from being Warden of the
Fleet Prison), according as required by Act of Parliament on pain
of felony. We also enquired into my Lord Chief Justice Eyre's
visiting Bambridge while under prosecution for felony in Newgate,
which a lawyer of our House told me was a high crime and mis-
demeanour, especially in a judge who afterwards tried that very
prisoner.

Then I went to the House, where Mr. Norris made a motion to
address the King to lay before the House the secret and separate
articles of the Treaty of Seville, with the ratification thereof. It
was a surprise on the House, and none of the Ministry to speak
against the motion present, but they were sent for in a hurry,
and the debate maintained by Sir William Strickland and Sir George
Oxendon till Mr. Walpole, Sir Robert Walpole, and Pelham,
Secretary of War, came in. We divided after four hours' debate
in which about twenty spoke on both sides, and, on the division,
one hundred and ninety-seven were against the motion, and
seventy-eight for it. It was justly argued that the motion tended

96 DIARY OF THE

April 21-25
only to destroy our present measures and animate the Emperor
to continue his resolution of going to war.

I returned home to dinner, and found Mr. Taylor there. In the
evening, cousin Thomas Wherwood and his wife came to see us.

At night I writ my brother Dering word that I had ordered
Mr. Aspinwall to write to his correspondent in Ireland to buy
my brother one thousand Irish subscription Stock, and that in the
mean time I had lodged the purchase money in Mr. Hore's hands
till drawn for.

Wednesday, 22 April. — This morning the clerk of St. James's
Parish brought me a notification that I am elected a Trustee of
King's Street Chapel and school. My wife went to Charlton this
morning, there to lie a night and settle the children till our return
from Bath.

I went this morning to Mr. Hore's, the banker, and left with him
930/. of my brother Bering's money, and took a note for his use
of the other 701. drawn by Mr. Hore on Harrison, of the Bath. I
also caused the 20/. paid by Hore to a woman in Bath last year
on my brother Dering 's account to be entered in my account with
Mr. Hore and my brother Dering is to account with me for it.

I called upon Dr. Couraye, who was in a shaking fit, the ague,
and sent to Dr. Arbuthnot to let him know it.

Yesterday, Mr. Eustace Budgell, a relation to the deceased
Mr. Addison, and one who made a figure by speeches in Parliament
and by his writings, and who, if I forget not, had an employment,
but had a small estate to which he was born, exceedingly mangled
and impaired by the South Sea project, came to Court, and in the
midst of the circle kneeled down and presented a petition to the
King, at which time he said aloud, so that all the room heard him,
that he was come to complain to his Majesty of great wrong and
injustice done him by Sir Robert Walpole. The King took the
petition, and now everybody is curious to know the purport of
it.

I dined with my cousin Le Grand. Called on Mr. Southwell,
and in the evening went to the House of Commons, which I found
sitting upon the Coal Bill, and did not break up till past seven.
Passed the rest of the evening at home.

Thursday, 23. — Settled divers affairs relating to my estate with
my steward, Mr. Taylor. Went to Court, dined with my brother
Percival, and in the evening went with him to the vocal concert.
My wife returned at night from Charlton.

Friday, 24. — Visited Colonel Schutz, Mr. August Schutz, Capel
Moor, and Sir Thomas Hanmer ; none at home but the first. My
cousin Le Grand and his wife, and Mr. Sansom, commissary of the
Packets at Harwich, dined with me. Mr. Sansom made the greatest
professions that can be given of his attachment to my brother
Parker's interest there, and to mine ; and showed me a list of all
the Corporation, which he brought up and remarked their several
dispositions and dependencies. He says that Orlibar, one of
our hot-headed antagonists, will be brought to reason, because
he has a great profit in sending oysters on board the Packets to
Holland, which he (the Commissary) can deprive him of when
he pleases, and that Charles Rainer must come over with Orlibar,
being his cooper. That Newell, the Mayor, he thinks an honest
man, and will return, having made apologies that he had been

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 97

1730.

guilty of a mistake in siding with Philipson. That Rudland had
privately assured one of our friends he will forsake Philipson's
party. That he finds Davis one of the most sensible and most
devoted of our friends ; that young Lucas will be brought over.
That Osborn and Peek will now be firm, and that many of Philipson's
party acted against us by the compulsion and awe of Philipson.
That Captain Stevens he has had no concern with, but young
Captain Wimple we may be assured of. He hinted that some-
thing is doing for Pliilipson at Harwich with respect to an employ-
ment, but could not tell me, or would not explain himself. That
he is sure Harrison of the Post Office is not my enemy, but he could
not assure the same of Cartwright ; his reason is, that when
Mr. Horace Walpole sent him to the Postmasters General to acquaint
them that he was to succeed Philipson, he bid him go first to
Harrison, and then to Cartwright, and bring him back word what
he should say upon it, but that Cartwright said nothing to it.

Afterwards I went to the Haymarket playhouse, and saw a play
called " The Author's Farce and the Pleasures of the Town," with
an additional piece called " The Tragedy of Tom Thumb." Both
these plays are a ridicule on poets, and several of their works, as
also of operas, etc., and the last of our modern tragedians and
are exceedingly full of humour, with some wit. The author is one
of the sixteen children of Mr. Fielding, and m a very low condition
of purse.

Saturday, 25 April. — I went to visit Mr. Sansom at the Paper
Buildings in the Inner Temple, and saw liis wife and child. We
talked over Harwich affairs. He repeated again that whatever
he could do for our service to the utmost extent of the liberty the law
will allow, he will use ; and I said we did not desire he should do
an\i:hing inconsistent with his duty or honour He said Mr. Manly,
of Ireland, had so strongly recommended Bickerton to him, that
he could not remove him without the greatest difficulty, but he
hoped he would act as he ought, without absolutely commanding,
for that would be interposing in such a manner as might come
to exceed the duty of his place ; but if he did not, he would, not-
withstanding, dismiss him ; that his method was to keep company
alternately with both parties, in order to cement the corporation
into one interest, wliich I approved, and on this occasion told him
it had industriously been given out by Philipson's friends that my
brother and I laboured to render Harwich an independent borough,
and exclude the power which the Government naturally ought
to have in a seaport town ; that this was false, for w^e only laboured
to defend a natural interest my brother had there, which Philipson
would strip him of ; that insidiously Philipson and his friends
pretended to be my friend, and only enemy to my brother, but
that he knew if he injured one he hurt both, and I did not accept
their compliment, w^bich tended to throw jealousy between my
brother and me ; that I had obligations to my brother for
inviting me to stand there, and had rather miscarry myself than
that he should. He told me again that Harrison was no friend to
Philipson.

Cousin Le Grand came this morning to me with some writings
for me to sign. I am trustee in his marriage settlement, and there
being an incumbrance thereon of 1,200Z., he had added to that
settlement other lands to make up the value of the incumbrance :

Wt. 24408 E 7

98 DIARY OF THE

April 25-Aug. 4
which 1,200Z. being since paid, he desired Mr. Southwell and me,
the two trustees, to exempt again out of the settlement the lands
of additional security, which we consented to, and I this day signed
accordingly.

I visited cousin Whorwood and his wife. AfterAvards went
to the House to attend Sir William Dudlej^'s Bill. Dined at home,
and then went to the Opera.

Sunday, 26 April. — Went in the morning to chapel, then to Court,
where the King again spoke to me about my journey to Bath!
The Prince did the same. Mr. Clerk and Dr. Couraye dined with
me. Went in the evening to chapel.

Monday, 27. — Set out for Bath.

Saturday, 20 June. — Returned to Charlton by Windsor, where
the 19th I went from Maidenhead to pay my court, and dined
with the Earl of Grantham.

Monday, 22. — Went to town to see my brother and sister Dering,
and dined with them. I returned at night.

Tuesday, 23. — Stayed at home all day.

Friday, 26. — Mr. Oglethorp came from London, and dined
with me. His business was to talk over his scheme of settling
poor debtors in Carohna.

Sunday, 28. — Mr. Blackwood, ]\lr. Swarts, and Justice Savery
came to see me after dinner, and my brother and sister Percival
dined with me. I took Justice Savery's directions for prosecuting
my deer stealers in Maidstone gaol.

Monday, 29, and Tuesday, 30. — Stayed at home.

Wednesday, 1 July. — Went to town to a meeting of the new
Society for fulfilling Mr. Dalone's mil in the conversion of negroes,
and disposing of five thousand pounds, a charity that will be put
in our hands by Mr. King's trustees, and which we design to dispose
in settling some hundred of families in Carolina, who came
necessitous out of gaols by virtue of our late debtors Act. Called
on Mrs. Percival and brother Dering.

July 2, 3, 4. — Stayed at home. This day my brother and sister
Dering came doT^n with their family to stay till they go to
Tunbridge.

Wednesday, 8. — This day came down Fabri and his wife, and
Bertholdi : the first and last singers of the Opera.

Thursday, 9; Friday, 10; Saturday, 11. — Stayed at home.

Sunday, 12. — Mr. Fabri and his wife went home. Communicated
at church. In the evening visited Mr. Blackwood and Captain
Bronkard. My wife presented Mrs. Fabri \rith a ring of six guineas.

Monday, 13, Tuesday, 14. — Stayed at home.

Wednesday, 15. — Went to town to the meeting of our Society
for converting negroes, and returned to dinner. There were present
Colonel Carpenter and Mr. Digby, eldest sons of my Lord Carpenter
and Lord Digby, Mr. Vernon, clerk of the Council and Com-
missioner of Excise, ]VIr. Anderson, Captain Coram, Mr. Oglethorp,
chairman for this year, and myself, and clergymen, Mr. Smith,
Mr. Bedford, our Secretaries, Mr. Hales and Mr. Bundy.

Thursday, 16. — Stayed at home.

Friday, 17. — Cousin Percival, with her daughter and son, the
parson, came and dined with us.

Saturday, 18. — Colonel Schutz came and dined with us, and
Mr, Richard PhiUps and his wife, of Harwich, came to lie at our

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL 99

1730.

house. Colonel Schutz gave me out of the Prince's charity money
ten guineas for conversion of the blacks and promoting the settle-
ment of a colony in the West Indies

Sunday, 19. — Mrs Bertholdi, the opera singer, went to London.
My wife presented her a silver teapot and salver of six guineas.
!Mr. Dawney came to see me.

Monday, 20 ; Tuesday, 21. — Stayed at home. Brother Percival
and sister came and dined with us.

Wednesday, 22. — Mr. Philips and his wife went to Harwich.

Saturday, 25. — Mr. Oglethorp came to dine with me, and dis-
course the charter we design to apply for.

Sunday, 26. — Visited Mr. Dawney.

July, Monday, 27 ; Tuesday, 28 ; Wednesday, 29. — Stayed at
home.

Thursday, 30. — Went to town to the Society of Associates for
Mr. Dalone's Legacy to convert blacks in America, and settle a
colony in America. There were present Mr. Oglethorp, myself,
Mr. Anderson, second accountant to the South Sea Company in
that article that relates to their trade, Mr. Hucks, junior,
Captain Coram, the Reverend Mr. Smith, and the Reverend Mr.
Hales. We agreed on a petition to the King and Council for
obtaining a grant of lands on the south-west of Carolina for settling
poor persons of London, and having ordered it to be engrossed fair,
we signed it, all who were present, and the other Associates were
to be spoke also to sign it before delivered. A paper drawn up
for Captain Coram to carry to Tunbridge in order to collect sub-
scriptions to our scheme, conditional that a grant be made us of
lands desired, was showed me, and my leave desired that I might
be mentioned in it, because they thought it might facilitate sub-
scriptions, and I readily gave it, but advised that some others
might likewise be mentioned in it. I gave them ten guineas,
which Colonel Schutz presented the Society out of the Prince's
charity money to forward the design. IVfr. Hastings sent five
pound, and an unknown person by Mr. Oglethorp 's hands twenty
pound.

I then went to dinner at my brother Percival's. In the evening
called on Sir Emanuel Moore, son to a sister of my father's. Then
to brother Dering's.

Friday, 31. — Went by appointment with Mr. Oglethorp to see
Mr. Carpenter, one of the three Trustees of Mr. King's Charity,
from whom we expect five thousand pounds for the settlement
of our colony. He was well disposed, but some had been tampering
with him to make him believe that disposal of the charity money
was not suitable to the deceased's will. We came away and
resolved that Councillor Mead's opinion thereupon should be asked
to satisfy Mr. Carpenter. One Smith and Gordon are the other
trustees of that charity. I dined with brother Dering.

Saturday, 1 August. — Called on Sir Emanuel Moore, who was
at home, and then left London to dine at Charlton.

I had from undoubted hands in London, that if the late Dr. Clerk,
of St. James's, had survived the present Archbishop of Canterbury,
the King would have made him his successor, and when the King
was told that could not be because he would not accept it, the
King replied, " I'll make him."
Monday, 3 j Tuesday, 4. — Stayed at home.

100 DIARY OF THE

Aug. 5-26

Wednesday, 5. — The Bishop of Gloucester, his chaplain,
and Dr. Barecroft came to dinner : the latter lay here.

The Bishop (Dr. Wilcox) is my acquaintance from the time
I was at Magdalen College, where he was Fellow. He afterwards
was chaplain to old Sir Harry Ashurst at thirty pounds a year,
and by his interest went chaplain to Portugal. After some years,
he returned, and, growing into Court favour, attended the late
King Greorge to Hanover as English Minister, and was made
Bishop of Gloucester. He is promised the Bishopric of Rochester
and Deanery of Westminster when old Dr. Bradford dies, which
is not far off. He is a very good-natured man, and has made a
resolution never to lay up a farthing he gets by the Church, which
he need not, having but one son to provide for and a good temporal
estate to leave him. He resides as much as any Bishop in his
diocese, at least four months in the year, and keeps a very generous
and hospitable table ; which makes amends for the learning he is
deficient in. However, though no great scholar, nor a deep man,
he is a very frequent preacher, and this, with his zeal for the
Government, good humour, and regular life, makes him very well
liked by the Government and all that know him. He is very facetious
and loves innocent jests, and told me he thought a man had nothing
to do but be as merry as he can with innocence. He told me
some merry arguments used by the priests in Portugal in their
disputes with him about religion. One asked him if the Protestants
ever doubted whether they were in the right way. The Bishop
answered, " No." " Ah !" said the priest, " that is a certain sign
they are in the hands of the de^dl ; for my part," continued he,
** I'm sure I'm of the true faith, because I often doubt I'me
wrong, for these doubts are suggestions of Satan, who would tempt
me to change the true religion for a bad one, and then he would
be sure to have me, but you Protestants he lets alone, because he
is sure of you already." Another priest asked him why we should
trouble ourselves that the true Church believed purgatory.
" For," said he gravely, " it is no concern of yours. All who go to
purgatory are to be saved, but you who are all to be damned have
no business with it, and therefore should say nothing about it."

This day my son's picture in miniature done by himself came
home, set in gold, and is admired for its neatness and likeness.

Thursday, 6 ; Friday, 7 ; Saturday, 8. — Stayed at home.

Sunday, 9. — Communicated. In the evening Justice Savory
and Mons. de Guillon came from Green\\dch to see me.

Monday, 10. — Mrs. Schutz came hither to dinner.

A short time ago Sir Charles Hotham, who was sent to Berlin
to endeavour a reconcihation with that Court, returned, and was
well received by the King. He was ordered to insist mth that
Eang that Reichenberg, his Resident here, a saucy fellow, and
who has long promoted a difference between the two Courts, should
be recalled, but that King constantly refused it, saying what we
laid to his charge was all lies. At length Sir Charles pulled out
of his pocket a letter of Reichenberg's intercepted, and told his
Majesty that since nothing else would satisfy him of it, he hoped
that letter would, wherein was several false informations of our
Court, and particularly concerning the Princess Amelia, whose
disorders he writ were fits of madness, than which nothing is more
false. The King took the letter, and instead of reading it threw

tiRSt VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. lOl

1730.

it at Sir Cliaiies's head, commanding him not to speak any more
about recalling his Minister, whereupon Sir Charles retired to his
lodging. The King, reflecting on his brutality, sent to him to
desire he would not wTite what had passed to Court, but Sir Charles
said he could not avoid it, that it was an indignity to his master,
whom he represented, and would not only send an account of it
by express, but follow the courier as fast as he could liimself . And
accordingly he came away without taking leave, though the
King several times desired he would stay and make up the
matter.

Tuesday, 11 ; Wednesday, 12. — Stayed at home.

Thursday, 13. — This day my brother and sister Dering set out
for London to consult Dr. Boreham on his illness, and my son
went with them.

Sunday ; 16. — This day Mr. Percival and his wife, of Eltham,
came in the afternoon to see us. He is a relation of mine, descended
from a branch in Somersetshire, and is now Secretary to the Navy
Office.

Tuesday, 18. — Stayed at home.

Wednesday, 29. — I had an account that my cousin Southwell
had been taken ill of a kind of apoplexy at Windsor upon drinking
when he was hot three glasses of spa water. I found him this
day in London in a recovering way, and my brother Percival in
a fit of the gout.

Thursday, 20 August, 1730. — I went tliis afternoon to a Council of
the Royal Society, to serve Dr. Wiggan, a physician of very good
character and interest, who desired I would be there to give my
vote to admit him a Fellow of the Royal Society. We passed
him with only one negative, and I doubt not the Fellows will
approve him at their next meeting.

Dr. Mead came to see me to tell me the Queen desired I would
instantly bring Dr. Couraye to her, she intending to prevail on
him to undertake a translation of Thuanus into French. I answered,
he was at IVIr. Duncomb's in Wiltshire, but I would write to him
this post to make haste up, and as I should not see him, because I
was to go next Tuesday to Bath, I desired the Doctor to carry him
to Windsor, which he said he would. In the evening I returned
to Charlton.

Friday. 21-Monday, 24. — Stayed at home.

Tuesday, 25. — Set out for Windsor, and dined in our way at
Richmond, where we saw the Queen's garden^ which is much
improved by several new walks made thi'ough the JPark and gardens.
One of them is a mile long, reaching from Richmond town to
Sir Charles Ayre's house on Kew Green, which the Queen bought
at his death. At night we lay at Eaton. Our number was my
wife and I, her maid, my gentleman, two footmen, a helper, coach-
man, and postillion, six coach horses and three saddle ones.

Wednesday, 26. — Went to Windsor ; called on Mr. Clerke,
where I met the Earl of Grantham. I thanked him for his kindness
to my young cousin Scot, who he got to be page to the Prince
without my kiowledge or that of any of his relations ; but Mr. Clerk
recommended him to him. I then went to the King's Levee,
who asked me several questions, and was very obliging, but he
gave me a gentle rub for not coming oftener to Court, for when
I told him I was going to Bath, he answered : Windsor lay in

102 DIARY OF THE

Aug. 26-Sept. 16
the way thither from Charlton. Afterwards I waited on the Queen,
who kept her usual affable behaviour to me, and discoursed much
about Dr. Couraye, who she desired to employ in publishing a
French translation of Thuanus's Latin history of his own time.
She said she knew he was the properest man in the world for it,
only she hoped when he came to translate the castrated pieces of
that famous author, he would not be outrageously severe on the
Jesuits, whom she knew he did not love. She said she had been
twelve years looking out for those castrated sheets, which she
had lately the good fortune to purchase, together with the manu-
script translation carrying on in France, and which Cardinal Fleury
would not suffer to go on ; that she has papers six foot high from
the ground. I replied, her Majesty showed herself a great patron
of learning, and a good judge in the choice of an able man to fulfil
her design ; that Dr. Couraye was certainly extremely capable
of it, and would rejoice that he could be in a way of serving her
Majesty. That being only a translator, he could not but follow
the original, that otherwise he would be unfaithful, which was
not his character, being in all things an honest and sincere man.
That I received her Majesty's commands in London Thursday
last, by the mouth of Dr. Mead, to bring him immediately to wait
on her, which I could not do, he being in Wiltshire with Mr.
Duncomb, but that I writ to him that very day to come up as
soon as he could and call on Dr. Mead who would bring him
as soon as he arrived to Windsor. She asked with some impatience
when would he be in London. I answered possibly Tuesday or
Wednesday, but that would depend on the time he might receive
my letter ; that in the country the post often lies some miles
distant from gentlemen's seats, and therefore he might not receive
my letter so soon as I could wish, but I was sure he would lose no
time. She then asked me my opinion how the Latin proper names
of families, towns, and persons should be translated, whether
into one single language, or into several, according to the pro-
nunciation of them in their respective countries She thought it
best they should all be rendered as the French pronounce them,
because that is the language most generally known, and the
translation would be in that tongue I answered if her Majesty
thought so, there ought to be marginal explications of those names
according to their appellations in their several countries, but I rather
humbly thought it best that the text itself expressed those names
according to their respective countries' manner of pronouncing
them. She then called the King up, and told him what she had
discoursed me upon, and what I thought of this last particular,
asking him what he judged. He immediately replied that certainly
I was in the right, they should be turned into the pronunciation
of their respective countries, for else nobody would know them.
The Queen said thereupon she thought so too. I said, however
their Majesties determined, the Latin terminations, as in the text,
ought not to be preserved, for no nation at all can make anything
of them as they now stand there. The Princesses asked very
kindly after my brother Dering ; but I could not see the Prince,
for he went this morning early to fish some miles off, and did not
return till night. My Lord Grantham said he would tell him that
I was at his apartment in hopes to pay my duty to him. After
Court was over, which was near four o'clock, we went to dinner

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 103

1730.

with Augustus Schultz, and at night took coach and proceeded
to Maidenhead Bridge, where we lay.

Thursday, 27. — Dined at Theal and lay at Spinham Land.

Friday, 28. — Dined near Marlborough, and lay at Sandy Lane.

Saturday, 29. — Dined at Bath, and lay at the Greyhound Lin,
in the Market-place. We took very good lodgings at Mrs. Philips
at four pounds a week, and went into them next morning.

Sunday, 30. — Parson Vesey, who married Ba, the apothecary,
the present Mayor's daughter, came to see me ; he is brother to
the late Sir T^homas Vesey, Bishop of Ossory, who died a month
ago, and son to Vesey, A[rch]b[ishop] of Tuam.

Monday, 31. — Mr. Cartwright, of Ayno, and General Stewart,
as they call him, nephew to the late General Stewart, came to
see me This last was cut out by the deceased General from
inheriting any part of his estate, by reason he made a stolen marriage
with Mrs. Villiers, daughter to the Lady Grandison, the General's
first wife. After her death, he married a second time, and
bequeathed his estate to her ; thereupon Mrs. Villiers, the new
married lady, went to law with her for her fortune as daughter
to the Lord Grandison, and the mother-in-law in return pretends
to be repaid all the expenses which the General deceased, her
husband, was at in keeping her in house and lodgings. The suit
is now depending. But the General had another reason to be
displeased with his nephew. He trusted him with the management
of all his affairs, even to keeping the key of his scriptore, out of which
the Brigadier one day stole a bond which he had given his uncle
for one thousand pounds lent him. The General coming to the
knowledge of it, expelled him his house., and upon this stolen
wedding expelled him his will. Therefore cave acquaintance with
him more than outward civihty.

Wednesday, 2 September. — Came my brother and sister
Percival.

Friday, 4. — Visited Lord Abercom, who is almost dead on one
side with the palsy ; returned also the visits of Archdeacon of Cork.
Dr. Russel and Mr. St. Johns.

Saturday, 5. — Writ to Lord Grantham to acquaint the Queen
that my letter to bring Dr. Couraye up miscarried, but that I have
sent this day express to send him to Windsor to wait on her.

Monday, 14. — Visited my Lord Carteret. I begun at
Dr. Desaguiliere's lecture of experimental philosophy.

Wednesday, 16. — Fabri, the opera man, came down.

I was informed of the true reason why the Prince of Prussia
fled from his father, namely, he would obhge him to turn Papist
to marry the Archduchess ; the Prince refusing, the King collared
him, whereupon the other thought best to fly for it, but was over-
taken at Wesel, and is now confined in a castle situated very
unwholesomely for air ; 'tis well if the brute his father dont
make him away, but he may do it as effectually, though not so
suddenly, by leaving him in that confinement. He allows him
sixpence a day for his maintenance. Two Colonels assisted him
in his escape, one of whom had the good fortune to save himself in
England, where he keeps incognito. The other was taken, and is
now in chains, carrying a wheelbarrow in the King's works. The
King, jealous that the Princess of Prussia knew of her brother's
escape, beat her eyes almost out of her head. The poor Queen is

104 DIARY OF THE

Sept. 16-Oct. 6
inconsolable, and our Court shed tears when this account came.
I have all this from good and undoubted hands.

Saturday, 19. — Visited Mr. Edward Ash.

Sundaj^, 20. — Brother and sister Percival, Fabri and Nash dined
with me.

Monday, 21. — Visited my Lord Hertford and Mr. Britton, and
the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Thursday, 24. — This day my son's letter from Leyden brought
me the sorrowful account that my brother Dering died on Sunday,
the 13th instant, in whom I have lost the wisest, most experienced,
faithful, generous, honest, sober and affectionate friend and relation
I had. Dr. Boreham, it seems, m part mistook his distemper,
for being opened a great stone of the diameter of a crown piece
and irregular was found in one of his kidneys. My brother Parker,
who was there, gave orders to embalm him, and to send him to
England to be buried at Arwarton at his own expense ; and my
poor sister, whom he has left in extreme bad circumstances by
the loss of the income of his places and pension, set out the 19th
with my son and brother Parker for Calais.

Friday, 25. — This morning at three o'clock I sent my gentleman
Hossock to London, ordering him to call at Windsor and deliver a
letter to the Earl of Grantham, wherein I begged of him to apply
to the Queen to intercede with the King that the pension my brother
had of one hundred pounds in Ireland may be made two hundred
pounds for thirty-two years. I also writ to Mr Schutz to desire
the Prince to back it with the Queen The Prince has lost in him
the most affectionate and most prudent servant he had about
him.

Sunday, 27. — Communicated.

Tuesday, 29. — Dined with the Speaker.

Wednesday, 30. — Visited Mr. Bagnal. This morning Baron
Bothmar told me that the private letters of his uncle. Count Bothmar,
bring an account that that monster, the King of Prussia, had
ordered a court-martial of officers to sit upon his son and try him
as a deserter, he having the command of a regiment ; that the
officers refusing to sit on this occasion, the King had divested
them of their orders and honours, and sent them in chains to work
at the fortifications. That the Prince had been urged to confess
who were privy to his flight, but he refuses to tell, because that
would be certain death to them. His answer is the King is master
of his person, and may do with him as he pleases ; but tell he will
not, anything to prejudice others. A new Council of War is sum-
moned, at which the Prince of Anhalt is to be President : a man
of violent and brutish character. In the meantime it is said the
Prince is ill.

I had a letter this week from Windsor from Augustus Schutz,
that the Prince entered into our affliction for D. Dering's loss,
and was contriving how to be kind to my sister ; this Avas writ
before mine to Schutz ; it shows the excellent heart of the Prince.

Thursday, 1 October. — I received also a letter from Mr. Clark, at
Windsor, that Lord Grantham had shown my letter, which he
writ him, to the Queen, who kept it (which I suppose was to show
the King), that my Lord would always be ready to serve my recom-
mendation, that he was sorry to hear of my brother's death, and
that he beheved my request would be granted. I also received a

First viscount percival. 105

1730.

letter from Aunt Long, who most kindly offered to give up two
hundred pounds a year of her jointure to my sister Dering, providing
my brother Parker would settle the same on my sister for her life,
and pay herself the other four hundred pounds ; and on this
condition she will immediately make over to him all that she has
in the world. I had also consohng letters from divers others.

Saturday, 3 October. — I had an account from cousin Le Grand
that cousin Southwell, contrary to expectation, was in a
mending way. More letters of condolence. I answered Aunt Long's
kind letter, as also Mr. Clerk's. I received a letter from my son from
Antwerp, dated October 4th, new style, which is the 23rd September,
old style, wherein he tells me he knew not how long he should stay
there ; my sister, from illness and fatigue, not being able to con-
tinue her journey immediately, or take long journeys. That she
came from Rotterdam by sea to Lille, near Antwerp, which is
thirty leagues, and from thence in a berlin to Antwerp. That
Sir Philip Parker came a day or two after the same way, but was
in great danger and all the company quite spent, and his eldest
daughter ill ; that he talked of leaving my sister to hasten before
her into England, which much concerned my son. I writ him
word this night that I had taken care of money matters, that he
should be furnished at Calais by Mr. Morella, and my banker
in London would accept the bill, and I directed my letter to Calais.
At night I went to a public concert for the benefit of Mrs. Young,
whose voice I think exceeds Corsone's or any Italian I ever heard
in clearness, loudness, and high compass.

Tuesday, 6. — Talking of several matters and persons with the
Speaker, Gyles Earl, of our House, etc. ; the latter gave an instance
of Mr. Addison's excessive jealousy of his reputation. He said that
after his fine play of Cato appeared in print, Tom Burnet (the
same who died Governor of New York) took it into his head to
burlesque a celebrated passage in it, not with design to ridicule
the poet, by exposing that idle pastime to the world, but only to
satisfy an instant thought of his own, and to try his skill that way ;
he therefore showed this piece to very few. But Mr. Addison
(however it came) got knowledge of it, and gave no rest to Mr. Earl
till he obtained a promise from Burnet to give no copy of those
verses, but to bum them. The generality of our company deter-
mined Addison to be no poet ; but Dean Gilbert excepted the poem
called " The Campaign." He was so shy, that if one stranger chanced
to be in company, he never opened his mouth, though the glass
went cheerfully round, nor did he show himself even to his friends
till past midnight, and rather towards morning, and then being
warmed with his liquor and freedom of select friends, he was the
most entertaining man in the world. Latterly he took to drinking
drams, which exhausted his vital spirits. Lord Sunderland made
him Secretary of State to keep others out who would not be his
tool, and when that end was served, he was discarded again, for
he knew nothing of business ; but this was no reflection on him,
his fine parts and genius lying another way, viz., to pohte studies.
In this he was greatly to be commended, that he always appeared
on the side of virtue and revealed religion. Talking of the Earl of
Hahfax (Mountague), the Speaker said he was one of the greatest
genius's of this time, a fine scholar, a bright invention, an eloquent
speaker, and intrepid, and equal to any in the management of

106 DIARY OF THE

Oct. 6-13
public business. He was a very remote relation of the great
families that bore his name, and, in low circumstances when coming
to London, he attached himself to the Earl of Portland, by whose
favours he purchased the place of Clerk of the Council, which laid
the foundation of his future greatness. Dean Gilbert said he had
seen in Mr. Mountague, his nephew's hands, memorials of his writing
that show him to be a very judicious man, especially his letters
on public business when abroad upon service. He had a nice
taste in antiquities and painting, and was a curious collector of
them. He had too much sense of his own merit, and was haughty.

Wednesday, 7. — Sir George Cook, one of the Prothonotaries of
the Common Pleas, came to see me. I know not why, unless that
he married his daughter to Mr. East, whose sister married my
brother-in-law. Sir Philip Parker.

Thursday, 8. — I received a letter from my son at Bruges, dated
2nd instant, that in a few days he hoped with my sister Dering
and Sir Phihp Parker's family to be in England. My daughter
also writ me from Charlton that she had a letter from him at
Newport, desiring my coach and horses might go down to Dover
to bring them up.

In conversation with my Lord Carteret this evening, I find
him a man of mare universal reading than I imagined, which, joined
with a happy memory, a great skill in Greek and Latin, and fine
elocution, makes him shine beyond any nobleman or gentleman
perhaps now living ; what pity 'tis he is not sincere. Among
other things, I find he is far from Tory notions in Church matters,
though his education when young lay that way. He said the
confinement of the power of administering absolution to a priest
only, is a jest, for if it be only declaring God's reconciliation to us,
and pardon of our sins, a layman may do it as well. That 'tis
no less a jest to affirm Bishops to be jure divino, or tithes to be so.
That this is only to make us conceive mighty things of the clergy,
and Popery at the bottom, as is likewise the punishing men for
their opinions. He liked the constitution of the Church as settled
in England by law, and believed it better than under another form,
but he would have the ecclesiastics acknowledge they hold what
they have under Acts of Parliament, which if it should be thought
requisite, might as well appoint priests to do the offices of Bishops
as leave the distinction that now is between those two orders.
I know not any Independent can talk more against the Church.

I answered, there was one thing the Bishop could, but the priest
could not do, namely, ordain ; which all antiquity showed, and is
confessed hy St. Jerome himself, who depressed as much as he
was able the Bishop's order. That Bishops might be jure divino,
without making it an order so necessary to a Christian Church
that without them such Church as allowed them not became no
Church, which would be to un-Church the Protestant Churches
abroad. The Apostles (I said) might have appointed Bishops as
the best manner of governing the Christian Church in general,
which appointment by men inspired was justly termed to be
jure divino, and yet we need not think that appointment of theirs
to be so absolutely necessary to the constitution of every particular
Church, as that such Churches as can not have them are of course
no Churches. Necessity has no law. That this was Archbishop
Usher's opinion, and that of the first Reformers, who yet thought

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 107

1730.

Bishops of Apostolic constitution and necessary to all Christian
Churches where they might be had. As to tithes, I agreed with
his Lordship, and many of our great divines, Archbishop Hutton,
Mr. Ellys, etc. ; that the precise tenth is not jure divino, being
established not by the moral, but the judicial or ceremonial law
of the Jews, which Christ has abolished ; but that the clergy should
have a proper maintenance, is certainly of divine right, and I
beheved, if tithes were taken away, and a suitable maintenance
given the clergy some other ways, they would get by it. I might
have told him that, as to absolution, though it be only declarative,
yet it follows not that any man, layman or other, may give
absolution, but only those appointed for that purpose, as every
man may not deliver his Prince's mind to a neighbouring State,
but only the Ambassador sent by him, nor every lawyer deliver
the King's conscience, but his Chancellor only, whom he has com-
missioned to it. But company drew near, and other subjects
arose.

Friday, 9 October. — Count Bothmar is very old, and declining
fast. He is a gentleman absolute and tyrannical in his nature
over his inferiors, as his nephew Baron Bothmar has often told
me, but being perfectly well bred, and fully experienced in the
world, bridles his temper to others. He was long first minister
to the late King, as Elector of Hanover, till the death of the Duke of
Zell, who had a Minister, Mons. Berenstorf, of equal ambition and
parts, that made himself so necessary to the King when that Duchy
fell to him, that he till his death shared his favour, and rivalled
the Count. Yet the Count's experience was greater than the
others, having served as public Minister in many Courts, and
lastly in England, where his prudence contributed much to defeat
the practices of Queen Anne's Ministers to defeat the Hanover
succession, and introduce the Pretender. He told me several
entertaining tilings this day, and run great encomiums on the late
Princess Sophia, who, he said, was a lady of great learning and wit,
and writ on certain occasions equal to Seneca. He said Frederick
William, Elector of Brandenburg, grandfather to the present
King of Prussia, was a courageous Prince, and understood war,
but was extremely passionate and haughty ; so that the most
gross flattery was acceptable to him.

His son, the late King of Prussia, was equally vain, but good-
natured. He loved women, but was not capable of so much
villainy as his brutish son, the present King, suspected him, namely,
of designing to corrupt his wife the present Queen.

He told me the present King had lately ordered a young
woman, daughter to a clergyman, to be stripped to her shift,
whipped, and afterwards banished, only for having played on the
harpsichord to the Prince his son in a concert.

Sunday, 11. — Communicated at the chapel.

Tuesday, 13. — Went to Miss Young's second concert. There
was much company at a crown a ticket, and all came away pleased.
They agreed that her voice is better than any of the Italian women's,
but that she wants their perfect manner, which is not to be attained
but by residing some years in Italy. She has a clear shake above
E-la-mi, which the others have not. She is under the disadvantage
of singing compositions adapted to the voices of others, and com-
posed purposely for them. She is besides, as yet, only a scholar,

108 1)IARY OF TH^

Oct. 13-15
and does not propose till some years hence to sing in the opera.
Geminiani, the famous violin, and a good composer, is her master.

Wednesday, 14. — My brother and sister Percival set out for
London.

Thursday, 15. — The Speaker, Judge Probyn, Gyles Earl,
Mr. Glanville, Mr. Temple, and I sat some hours at the Coffee
House. The subjects we talked on were the clergy, and Parliaments.
Mr. Earl said it was miserable to see the ignorance of the common
people, and added in his odd, violent way of expressing himself,
he did not believe one in a hundred thousand made religion his
rule, or refrained from any sin for fear of God, which was owing
to the scandalous lives and behaviour of the clergy. The Speaker
joined Avith him, that it was singly owing thereto. I said they
should add also the ill example of the nobility and gentry.
Judge Probyn said he heard a Minister read prayers in London
so carelessly, that one of the congregation reproached him with it.
To which he replied, " I read well enough for my pay ; I had but
a shilling, give me half a crown, and I'll read as well again."

We then fell upon the business of tithes. I said they were not
jure divino, and several good and learned Churchmen own :
Archbishop Hut ton, etc. ; and it were well both for clergy and
laity they were abolished, and a maintenance given them some
other way ; that wliile tithes subsist, the clergy can never have
the esteem of the laity, because obhged to wrangle continually
with their parishioners for their dues, besides that their studies and
labours are necessarily interrupted. That tithes were established
by the ceremonial or % the judicial law of Moses, both which were
abolished by Christ ; but there was still so much of the moral law in
them that the clergy have a Di\4ne right to a proper maintenance,
which since it might be given them a more convenient way, made
tithes not necessary.

Earl said he would have glebe let out to them, and why should
they not be farmers and till the ground, as well as others ? I
answered, then they could not vacate to their labours of preaching,
visiting the sick, etc., nor pursue their studies.

Judge Probyn said the great objection against taking away
tithes is that no other allowance can secure to them a subsistence
in all times proportionable to the rise and fall of money and the
necessaries of life, but what might now be judged a reasonable
salary might in future times become impossible to live on. The
Speaker replied their income might be settled by the pound rate,
which would always bear a proportion to the rise of lands, the
value of money, and price of commodities ; and this is so plain,
that if the clergy should make any objection to this expedient,
it would only show they had another reason for insisting on tithes,
which they would not speak out, namely, that they dont care
to be subordinate to the laity. We then talked of the Statute of
Mortmain, which the Speaker said was not sufficiently adhered
to ; that licenses were given to every one that asked them, and
that if a man petitioned for leave as far as two hundred pounds,
they will bid you put in a thousand pound.

Then we talked of Queen Anne's Act for augmentation of livings,
which most of the company said would prove of dangerous con-
sequence in the end, as also of the Universities buying up advowsons
and presentations to livings, which they have made a point of policy

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 109

1730.

of, and must prove of great detriment to themselves, as well as
it is to learning. That these livings being bought up and annexed
to the respective Colleges, are bestowed to the Fellows in turn,
according to their seniority, to the great discouragement of study,
for a learned man shall not have the preference over a blockhead,
because it is not his turn. Besides, as many livings as are thus
sold by lay proprietors, so far is diminished the laity's power over
the clergy.

The Speaker said a very learned and great Churchman owned
to him he foresaw great inconveniences would attend this practice,
and that it Avould put the laity one time or other upon reassuming
all, and leaving the clergy naked.

This led us to talk of the Reformation, and the dissolution of
abbeys, and vesting the laity in their lands, which preserved the
Reformation at Queen Elizabeth's accession, for had Queen Mary,
her predecessor, been able to procure their restitution, Popery had
been bound down upon us. This wise advice is owing to Thomas
Cromwell. On occasion of auricular confession, Mr. Glanville
quoted an expression of Mr. Hales, of Eaton, who Avrites in some
of his works that Pliny affirms the poison of an adder is cured by
whispering in an ass's ear. Now, says Hales, though I own sin
is as bad as the poison of an adder, yet I cannot believe that whis-
pering in an ass's ear will heal it.

Talking of the antiquity of ParUaments, the Speaker said that
the great Lord Chief Justice Hales has proved in a manuscript
that is to see the light soon, that William the First, wrongfully
called the Conqueror, did not arbitrarily introduce his Norman
tenures into England of holding by services, but that he summoned
a number of principal persons out of every county in the nature
of a Parliament, and they by a formal Act received them. He
added that in that manuscript there is one piece of strong doctrine,
namely, that the King has a Council judicial, distinct from the
Lords, or Courts of Justice.

Judge Probjni confirmed it, and said he was sorry to see it there,
and it were to be wished he had not mentioned it. One gentleman
put the question whether anciently the Commons and Lords did
not make one House. The Speaker replied it was a question so
doubtful that it could not be decided ; that anciently the title of
the Speaker was Speaker of the Parliament in the House of Com-
mons, not as now. Speaker of the Commons House ; likewise
formerly the Commons used to petition the Lords to preserve
their rights, which looks as if the whole made one body ; besides
we all know that the separate jurisdiction of the House of Lords
is only tacitly allowed by the Commons, on condition of these last
having the sole right of raising money, which whenever disputed
by the Lords, then the Commons will dispute their jurisdiction.
We likewise see that till the Union dissolved Parliaments in Scotland,
the Lords and Commons there sat together. On the other hand,
if, as is said, the Parliament of England were the same in form as the
States in France, then there's no doubt but the Lords and Commons
are separate Houses. Our records give us light in this matter no
further than the beginning of Richard the Second's reign, when
notice is taken of a Speaker of the House of Commons, though
a historian mentions one in a Parliament held at the close of the
preceding reign.

110 DIARY OF THE

Oct. 15-22

Mr. Earl said in reading the history of Empson and Dudley,
those bloodsuckers under Henry the Seventh, who suffered upon
Henry the Eighth's succession to the Crown, he never could find
by what justice they were put to death. The Speaker said it was
a question had puzzled many, for that the historians represent
them as dying to satisfy the rage of the multitude, but in Anderson's
Cases may be seen the indictment against them, wherein is men-
tioned their taking arms and making an insurrection ; the truth
of which was, that to defend themselves from the popular insults,
their friends resorted to them with arms, which was gladly laid
hold of by Henry the Eighth, who made his judges interpret this
rebellion, that there might appear some colour to destroy them,
otherwise there was no law to execute them.

Friday, 16 October. — The same company meeting again, and dis-
coursing of tithes, the Speaker said that Sir Gilbert Heathcote
had shown him the draft of a Bill which next Sessions he intends
to offer to the House for settling the uncertainty of payment of
tithes demanded from lands that formerly belonged to abbeys or
are supposed to have belonged to them, and consequently are
exempted. The Church could not pay tithe to itself, and therefore
Church land being free at the dissolution of abbeys by Henry the
Eighth, tithe cannot be demanded of the laity who hold such
lands under the grants of them made by that King. But as there
is great uncertainty whether particular lands, whose occupants
refuse to pay tithes, were abbey lands or not, the Speaker thought
this Bill very necessary to prevent vexatious suits by quieting
the subject in his possession.

Judge Probyn said thereupon, that it would be a good Bill,
because when a clergyman demands tithes and the possessor refuses
to pay, alleging his estate is abbey land, the proof that it is so lies
on the possessor, which by length of time, losing his original grant,
is hard for him to do. That there was two resumptions of abbey
lands ; the first, which some years preceded the other, though it
vested King Henry in them, yet the tithes were not granted him,
and they are tithable ; but the second resumption gave him like-
wise the tithe, and when he granted the lands of these last away
to his lay subjects, he made over to them to all his entire right to
them ; so that the subjects who hold lands of this second sort are
excusable from tithe.

Talking further of tithe, the company agreed that the clergy
have as much right to them as the layman has to his estate, and
that it were unjust to deny them, because no man purchases an
estate in land but with a valuable deduction in the price for the
tithes paid out of it, otherwise he would pay two years' purchase
more if excused of tithes ; wherefore the Quakers are to blame
to refuse paying, for in the estates they hold they have a con-
sideration made them for the tithes they pay out of them, and
have no right to the benefit of not paying, for thereby they would
hold what was not their own.

Judge Probyn said the clergy have a right to the tithe of every-
thing, and even of the labour of handicraft trades, as if a black-
smith earn twenty pounds a year, he ought to pay two pounds to
his minister. I asked him how pasture land paid which fed variety
of beasts, as growing cattle, which do not give the tenth beast ;
he said this is by a sort of agreement not disputed, of paying two

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. Ill

1730.

shillings an acre. Touching the laity's enjoyment of Church
lands, the Speaker said he had an argument with the present
learned Bishop of Bangor, Dr. Sherlock, who maintained that the
resumption of abbey lands and giving them to the laity was a
real injury to the clergy in that more than a due proportion was
thus reassumed. The Speaker's answer was, that his Lordship
was under a mistake through not recollecting the obligations the
clergy were under, before that resumption, and the burthen the
laity thereby have eased them of ; for in old time the charge
of maintaining the poor and of repairing churches lay upon the
clergy alone, which made it fit and necessary that their income
should be larger than now, and since the laity have taken these
charges upon them, it is fit they should have the proportion
of Church lands they are in possession of to do it with, by which
nevertheless they are no gainers, it being certain that the expense
of these two articles rise to two-thirds of the ancient revenue of
the Church ; and if the clergy now enjoy to their peculiar use
one-third of the income they formerly had, it is as much as by the
ancient rule they were to receive out of the revenue of the Church.
For it was the rule to divide the whole into three parts, one of
which went to the maintenance of the clergy, the other of the poor,
the third to the support of the churches and other buildings. He
said the Bishop had no answer to give, but that he believed the
expense of poor and churches did not mount to two-thirds of the
revenue of Church lands.

October 20. — After evening prayers, the Speaker and others of
us met again at the Coffee House, and our discourse was of Queen
Elizabeth's reign, and her putting Mary, Queen of Scots, to death.
The Speaker observed that that example cost King Charles the
First his head, for the people of England would not have suffered
it, only that they found so fresh an instance in their own country
that crowned heads might be questioned and capitally sentenced.
He said Queen Elizabeth acted a mean part to pretend that Queen's
death was against her orders ; and that she was a good politician,
but nothing else. He said that King Charles the First acted
entirely on tyrannical maxims of his father, and that if he had got
the better in that struggle there had been an end of our liberties.
The three main actions that undid him were, his coming into the
House of Commons to seize the five members, his breaking the
treaty of Uxbridge and marching to surprise London, and his
letter to his Queen, which Oliver Cromwell discovered.

The first it is thought he was put upon to make him perish in
the disorder that must have happened if the five members had
not withdrawn in time, for there was not a member but would
have drawn his sword to protect them, and blood would have
ensued. The second showed he was not sincere in that treaty,
but only entered into it to lull the Parliament asleep. It was his
misfortune that the night before, he received an express from
the Marquis of Montrose in Scotland, that he had defeated the rebels
there and was coming to join him, so the King thought his affairs
in too good a condition to be under any necessity of treating with
his subjects. The third, namely the letter, showed there was no
depending on his word.

October 22. — The same company met again ; our discourse was
on Dr, Clerk's writings. The Speaker said his discourse on the

112 DIARY OF THE

Oct. 22-31
attributes of God is the finest metaphysical divinity that ever
appeared, and that no man ever before demonstrated the
impossibihty of more Gods than one, and that in effect if there
could be more Gods than one, then there may be no God at all.
He added that it was this enquiry that led him to his Arian notions.
Dean Gilbert said the Doctor left a multitude of sermons in manu-
script, but not all fitted for the Press ; Dr. Carleton, the physician,
said he heard nine hundred.

The Speaker replied, three hundred are corrected by him, and
will be printed according to his design befoi^e he died. That they
are properly not sermons but discourses, and ought to be read
carefully, being too deep for use on bare hearing them from the
pulpit. That he wished the young clergy Avould collect from
them the critical explanations he has given of a multitude of difficult
texts, which would be the best comment on the Bible that ever
was. He said this is the excellence and delight of my Lord
Chancellor King's studies, who employs his leisure hours this way,
and is very learned in divinity.

The copy of Dr. Clerk's sermons are sold by the widow for
twelve hundred pounds, but would have come to much more had
they been proposed to be printed by subscription as was advised.

Talking of Sir Isaac Newton, the Speaker said we are to expect
his theological works, and that he was a great respecter of the
prophecies, the completion of which he thought the surest proof
of the Christian religion ; and that he judged the Revelations
to contain all the great events which are to be completed in the
world before the second coming of Christ.

Talking of Sir Gilbert Heathcote (" the Father of the City," as
he is called), the Speaker told a story of his boldness in the late
Queen's reign. When the Treaty of Commerce with France was
in agitation, the Earl of Oxford summoned a great number of
citizens to expose to them the advantages of it. Sir Gilbert, who
stood behind in the crowd, having attended to the reading them,
cried out, " Ah, Robin, God help thy head." Immediately they
who were near him expressed their surprise at his rude words, to
which he replied : " He stood so fair, I could not help it ; and
thereupon I will tell you a story. A man stooping into a cellar
to take up an apple, a passenger who saw his breech offer itself,
up with his foot and gave him a push that canted him to the bottom ;
the mob flocking about, asked him whj' he did so ? His answer
was, he stood so fair he could not help it. Now, mine was the
same case."

Talking of Dr. Pemberton's explanation of Sir Isaac Newton's
Principles of Natural Philosophy, Dean Gilbert observed that it
does not answer what is promised, namely, to render it easy to
persons not skilled in that science, for none can understand it
that did not before understand Sir Isaac's book. Upon this,
Dr. Carleton applied very luckily the following story : A person
observing a short-sighted man fitting himself with spectacles at a
shop, went in, and when the other who, upon trial, said he had
found a pair that helped him well to read, was gone,, fell to trying
several glasses, none of which satisfied him. The shopkeeper,
growing at last impatient, said to him, " 'Tis strange you can
find none that fit you ; why, sure you can't read ?" " True," said
the other, " if I could, I had no occasion to come to you."

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 113

1730.

The Speaker said Sir Isaac Newton thought Antichrist came
in with the modem doctrine of the Trinity, and that Dr. Clerk
was of the same opinion.

I dined with the Mayor, at his feast given by him on being chosen.
Mr. Sands, of the House of Commons, Colonel Codrington, Mr. Gay,
the apothecary, member for Bath, and Dean Gilbert were the
principal persons there.

I received a most pious and sensible letter from Mr. Schroeder,
at Hanover, upon my brother Dering's death.

October 23. — The same company met at the usual time, and dis-
coursed about two hours and a half of several parts of literature and
characters of men. He said a lady asked the famous Lord Shaftes-
bury what religion he was of. He answered the rehgion of wise men.
She asked, what was that ? He answered, wise men never tell. The
Speaker said Sir Isaac Newton and Dr. Clerk's opinion was that
the great Antichrist is not a person, but the modem doctrine of
the Trinity, i.e., the vulgar manner of explaining that mystery.

24. — The Speaker, Mr. Glanville, Mr. Sands and Mr. Worsley,
the Counsellor,, dined with me.

I did not know before that the famous Sir Thomas Clarges,
brother-in-law to Monk, and who had so great a hand in bringing
in Eang Charles the Second, was originally an apothecary. The
Speaker said he made a good figure in the House of Commons,
and latterly became one of the heads of the country party against
King Charles's measures.

He said also, talking of the Peerage Act, that though my
Lord Sunderland had the blame of it, he was much against it,
but my Lord Stanhope pressed it, and had unaccountably prevailed
with the late King to approve it, though it was the greatest abridg-
ment of the Royal prerogative that ever could have been attempted.
He also said that Pingelly, afterwards Lord Chief Justice, that
upright man, was violent for the Bill, on a principle of liberty,
because had it passed it would have preserved property in the
Commons. On the same principle, the Whigs of the House of
Commons were almost all for it, and Sir Robert Walpole's party
fell out with him because he persisted to be against it. They
triumphed over him that they should carry it, but he told them
one argument alone would defeat their expectation, for, said he,
"I'll but mention to the House that by this Bill none present,
nor their posterity, could hope to be made Lords, and you will
find I shall have the majority." He proved himself a prophet,
and the Bill was thrown out.

October 30. — This day we had a pubHc dinner at Lindsey's in
honour of the King's anniversary. Above eighty gentlemen met,
and our club came to nineteen and sixpence apiece

October 31. — My sister Dering and my children came safe from
Charlton. It was a pleasure to hear by my son that my brother
Dering died so calmly as not to fetch a groan nor move a limb.
My sister was in the room, and thinking him asleep went up to her
own room to take some rest. Upon opening him, it was found
he died of the stone, which had entirely wasted one of his kidneys.
In the place was a stone that weighed two ounces ; in the other
kidney were three as big as large nuts. He lay for the most part
of a week in a lethargy, but in his intervals showed great resignation,
relying on the merits of Christ.

Wt. 24408. E 8

114 DIARY OF THE

Nov. 3-5

Tuesday, 3 November. — This day I dined with the Speaker, in
company with the Dean of Exeter, Dr. Gilbert, Mr. John Temple,
my son. Dr. Carlton, the physician. Dr. Soley, a clergyman, and
Psalmanassor, the Formosa Indian, who has been in England
above these twenty years, and now lives companion with Dr. Soley.
Psalmanassor told us that he had reconciled himself to dressed
meats, but still prefers raw meat, as lying best on his
stomach.

Thursday, 5. — I went to the Mayor's invitation to drink the
King's health at the Town Hall, this being a great day in Bath,
the anniversary of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot.

Mr. Wesloisky, who for twelve years was a servant of the Czar
Peter AJexowitz, and is a Moscovite bom, told me this day the
true cause of the differences between his master and the late
King George, an anecdote I knew not distinctly before, and which
shows what misfortune may happen to a nation by the means of
an interested Minister.

At the time when this Mr. Westlow (sic) was Under-Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, the Czar Peter had for King George the First,
then Elector of Hanover, only a personal value and friendship
over and [above] the political considerations that moved him to
a harmony with him ; and he had as ill an opinion of Queen Anne,
and her last Ministry, for basely deserting their allies, and concluding
with France an ignominious peace, to which for some imaginary
gain to England she sacrificed the interest of her best friends,
contrary to an express article of Treaty, whereby none of the Allies
were to transact privately a peace with the common enemy, but
on the contrary, to communicate fairly to the rest the offers that
should be made and to conclude nothing but by general consent.
The Czar (Mr. Weslo said), though he had no courage nor honour
himself, valued it extremely in others, and especially in the late
King, whom he thought the bravest and honestest man prince in
Europe. At the same time, the Czar had a great hatred for the
Emperor, though he kept fair with him for political reasons. He
was then at war with Sweden, and the fewer enemies he made the
better. As to the Pretender, he then despised his pretensions
to the Crown of England, and never so far altered his mind as
seriously to intend to help him, though when he fell out with
King George, he made as if he did, purely to vex our King. This
was the situation of the Czar's mind at the latter end of Queen
Anne's reign, and when she died, he expressed great joy at King
George's peaceable accession to the Crown, declaring that he would
even assist to maintain him on the throne, if he met with dis-
turbance.

It happened that the Czar, in prosecution of his war with Sweden,
found himself obliged to send an army of twenty thousand men
into Mecklenburg, where after the manner of soldiers ill-paid^
they took the best care they could of themselves at the expense
of the natives, whom they used very ill, plundering and consuming
their effects, and in a word so wasted the land, that the estated
men of the country, seeing themselves reduced to the greatest
straits and no end of their suffering, offered to sell their possessions
to the first who would buy them, that themselves might retire
and enjoy what they could save in some other region, but they
found few purchasers, which reduced the price very low, and he

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 116

1730.

that would venture, was sure, whenever that Duchy should recover

itself, to buy very advantageous bargains.

At that time. Baron Berenstorf was first Minister to King Greorge
at Hanover, and had also almost the same power of an English
Minister when he attended the Elector into England, upon
Queen Anne's death. This gentleman was himself of Mecklenberg,
and had an estate there, and being possessed of a great sum of ready
money (as first Ministers know how to get), reflected with himself
that here was a fine opportunity to lay out some of his silver to
great advantage. He judged that the vexations of an army
quartered in Mecklenberg would not always last, and that being
chief Minister to a powerful Prince, in strict amity with the Czar,
he might find means to ease his own estate, and what he should
further purchase in addition to it, even of the present quartering
soldiers, however the rest of the Duchy suffered. He therefore
bought great districts of land there, to the purchase of two hundred
thousand rix dollars, which lands were in reality worth three times
that sum, and having so done, sohcited as powerfully as he could
Prince Menricof, the Czar's first Minister, that saufguards might
be granted for exempting his estates from contribution.

The Prince thereupon replied that it was impossible, without
absolutely ruining the Duchy ; that he had before done this favour
to the Baron's original patrimony, but that the lands he now
solicited should be eased were of such an extent that it was an
unreasonable desire ; that the army now there must be subsisted,
and that would be impossible, if more should be demanded of the
other inhabitants to make up the exemption of the Baron's
subjects.

This was but reasonable ; however, Berenstorf resented it, and
would not let it pass so. He obtained of the late King to com-
mand his Minister at Vienna to sohcit the Emperor for an order
of the Aulic Council to appoint curators over the Duchy of
Mecklenberg as being a fief of the Empire, who should have com-
mission to see that the Duchy were evacuated of a foreign army.
Mr. Wesloisky, who was then resident agent for his master at
Vienna, and had made intimacy with some clerks in office by means
of money which the Czar was very generous in giving to get
information, obtained secretly a true copy of King George's letter,
and sent it express to the Czar, who was then (I think) in Holland.
The Czar, amazed at this underhand dealing, from a Prince with
whom he was in strictest amity, would not believe it, and sent back
the express to Mr. Weslow, requiring him to repeat to him whether
that copy was genuine. In the meantime such dispatch was used
at Vienna, that the AuUc Council fulfilled their part, and Westlo
sent his master word thereof, informing him further that the
Emperor had writ his Czarship a letter to desire him to withdraw
his army The Czar astonished, writ immediately to his Greneral in
Mecklenberg not to stir ; he also sent the Emperor word that he
could not withdraw his troops yet awhile ; that he was extraordinarily
surprised at so hasty a proceeding, but he would maintain his
army in that Duchy by force against all who should endeavour
to hinder him, and that to let his Imperial Majesty see he was
earnest, he had ordered twenty thousand men to march to the
frontiers of Silesia. These men did accordingly advance thither,
which put the Emperor into a great disorder. Silesia was the

116 DIARY OF THE

Nov. 5-19
Emperor's country, and there was at that time a jealousy that
the Turks would renew the war. Moreover, the troops sent by the
Czar were Cossacks and Tartars, who committed terrible
waste.

The Emperor now repented his precipitancy, and so it was not
long after that King George did so too. The Czar expostulated
with, the latter, and sent Mr. Westlo for that purpose to England.
But King George had a great heart, and though he could not but
know he had acted an unkind part in acting in the dark wdth a
good ally, yet the oppressions the Mecklenbergs suffered from the
Moscovites touched him, and he knew his ends to relieve that
poor people were honest and justifiable. He therefore boldly
maintained the share he had in that transaction, and the Czar's
interest requiring him to dissemble, brought him to make a virtue
of necessity ; he by degrees cooled and offered to renew the broken
friendship between them on condition King George would guarantee
to him the possession of Riga and Revil, which towns he had
conquered from the Swedes. This King George refused. He then
desired to have a personal interview with him when he made his
journey to Hanover, and, depending on it, set forward, but
King George passed and declined seeing him. Undoubtedly by
Berenstorf's counsel, who must have been the sacrifice of their
reconciliation, for King Greorge did not then know of the estates
he had bought in Mecklenburgh. Upon all this usage, he grew
desperately enraged, swore he would be revenged, and everybody
knows that he made an open show of helping the Pretender's cause.
England suffered deeply in the fray, for the Czar raised the customs
and duties on trade three per cent., making them eight, whereas
they were before but five. He forbid the entry of English cloth into
his country, of which he before took off eighty thousand suits for his
soldiers, choosing to have the same from Prussia and Silesia, which
though not so good as English manufacture was twice as cheap,
a loss not yet recovered. He put us to the charge of annual fieets
to keep up his own squadrons, heartless, dangerous, and discon-
tenting expeditions, and lastly, he flung himself into the hands of
the Emperor, a person he abhorred before, and we still feel the
inconveniencies of that alliance.

All these misfortunes are omng to the interestedness of a Minister,
and the late King's faciUty of giving credit to him, and this was
the true reason of that great breach.

This Mr. Weslo\\isky is nephew to Baron Scaphirof, once H.
Chancellor of Moscovy, under whom he served for a time as under-
clerk, and afterwards was preferred to be Secretary at War under
Prince Menzicof, about the [time] of whose disgrace he was sent
Resident to Vienna, and was afterwards appointed Minister sans
litre at that Court : from thence he was sent to Hesse Cassel, and
soon after was recalled home, but, refusing to go, retired secretly
to England, where he got himself naturalised.

Sunday, 8 November. — Mr. Brockhurst, who is troubled with
the gout, said that for some months past he has been free of it,
by wearing alum in his pockets, and that he was advised to it
by a gentleman who had by that means escaped the gout seven years.
A gentleman in company mentioned a friend of his who escaped
also for many years the same way. But I told them my
Lady Butler in our lodgings had tried it without effect.

tlRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 117

1730.

Monday, 16. — There came news this day from London of a current
report there, that the King of Prussia had caused his son to be
beheaded, and obhged his Queen and daughter to see the execution.
I suspend my belief till I hear .further, though what cannot such
a brute be guilty of ? Brigadier Dormer told me that when this
King served the campaign in Flanders (he was then only Prince),
General Grumeau, now his first Minister, commanded a regiment
of Prussians. That its coming to the Prussians' turn to mount
the trenches, there were several regiments of them ; the Duke of
Marlborough complimented the Prince with desiring him to name
which regiment of his nation should go. The Prince answered
Grumeau's. The Duke replied that Grumeau was then sick in
bed of a fever, and it Avould grieve him not to be on duty with
his regiment, wherefore he entreated him to name some other,
and the rather that it was not Grumeau's turn. But the Prince
had the hardness, not only to persist, but to go to that General's
tent to acquaint him that he must rise and enter the trenches that
day. Grumeau, ill as he was, got up, and soon after the Brigadier
saw him at his post, as pale as liis cravat, and in a high fever.
The news is more certain, that by the King's command an ofl&cer
has been beheaded under the Prmce's prison window, who, looking
out to bid the young gentleman a last adieu, the officer said to
him : " Sir, I die with pleasure if it contributes to your safety."

Tuesday, 17. — This day a letter was sent to a tradesman of tliis
city ordering him to put a suni of money under the door of
St. Michael's Church before Thursday night on pain of having his
house burnt and himself murdered. Hereupon the Mayor ordered
fifteen constables to search and take up all vagrants and persons
who would give no account of themselves, and accordingly forty
were seized, and stand confined, the gates of the city were ordered
to be guarded, all night-walkers examined, the fire engines drawn
ready out, and all the hedge ale-houses within a mile searched for
suspicious persons. A noted gaming house was also suppressed,
where our footmen lose their time, money and honesty ; one
footman I am told lost a hundred pounds. This wicked practice
of writing letters with desperate and damnable threats is now
spread through many parts of the kingdom.

Wednesday, 18. — Notwithstanding so many persons taken up,
we don't find there is proof against any that they are incendiaries.

Thursday, 19. — ^I spend every day two hours in the evening
at the Coffee House, with pleasure and improvement, especially
in such public places as the Bath and Tunbridge, because of the
great resort of gentlemen thither for their health or amusement,
out of whom a few who are of the same turn of conversation (after
the ceremonies at making acquaintance are over) naturally select one
another out and form a sort of society ; when the season is over,
if we think it worth the while, we preserve the acquaintance ; if
not, there is no harm done, no offence is taken. The ease with
which gentlemen converse, and the variety of their respective
knowledge and experience is equally pleasing and instructive.
The set I met constantly with since this last arrival at Bath were
the Speaker of the House of Commons, Dr. Gilbert, Dean of Exeter,
Dr. Carleton, a physician, Mr. Glanvil, member of the House of
Commons, and Mr. John Temple. The three former are gone,
and their room is supplied by Mr. Joy, son to a late director of the

118 DIARY OF THE

Nov. lO-Bec. 7
South Sea, but one who reads much and had University education ;
Mr. Peregrine Bartue. a gentleman of estate in Suffolk or Sussex,
Mr. La Mot, chaplain to the Duke of Mountague, who was my
schoolfellow at Mr. Demeur's, and is now beneficed in Northampton-
shire, and Sir Justinian Isham, knight of the shire for that
county.

December 3. — Some days ago Mr. Joy went away, and the com-
pany I most frequently meet in the evening is Lord Carteret,
Mr. Bartue, Sir Harry Ashurst, Dr. La Mot, Mr. Temple, and
sometimes Lord Limington, the Earl of Thomond, Mr. Clerk,
nephew to my merchant in the City, and Mr. Byng, third son to my
Lord Torrington.

Sir Harry Ashurst said that Sir John Hubbard was obhged at
fifty years old to use spectacles ; that one night some Portugal
snuff getting into his eyes, he after getting rid of it went to bed,
and the next morning having occasion to read a paper found he
could do it without spectacles ; whereupon, taking the hint, he after-
wards would at times rub his eyelashes with that snuff, and for
thirty years till he died read without any help. Dr. La Mot con-
firmed the virtue of that snuff by another of his own knowledge.

Mr. Jacom told me the liberty granted by the Kong to list seven
hundred and fifty Irishmen to recruit that corps in France, was
recalled. He said that more than a year ago the French Court
had desired it upon our insisting that the works of Dunkirk newly
repaired contrary to Treaty should be demohshed. That the
King replied it was not just to make the demolition a bargain,
since they were obliged to do it, but when he should see that
punctually executed, he would consider their request ; that now
those works are effectually spoiled, they renew their desire, and
he accordingly gave hcense for the number above-mentioned,
but upon finding the general dissatisfaction it gave his subjects,
had recalled his leave, and that Count Brogho, the French
Ambassador, was satisfied, owning the King had never passed his
word for obliging His Court in that matter.

As to the demolition, he told me that Colonel Lascelles, our
engineer appointed to see it done, had writ word that all was
performed to his full content, that the imposition and cheat put
upon us before was that they took the level for throwing down
the jetties at high water mark, to which only they lowered them,
it being promised in the treaty to demolish them to the level of
the water., but not expressed whether high water or low, so that
at low water the banks remained so high that the sand drove by
the tides which flow from east to west, found still a stop; and left
the canal unchoked; but now these jetties are reduced to the
level of low water mark, so that every tide contributes sand to
choke the canal, or to render it more tedious and expensive for
them to repair the jetties, if ever they should propose to do it ; the
stones of the jetties are taken away and cast into the sea.

He said my Lord Torrington and Sir Charles Wager are entirely
satisfied with what is done. Mr. Jacom is a member of Parliament,
and was clerk to Mr. Gibson, who recommended him to Sir Robert
Walpole as a man well skilled in funds and Government's accounts,
and so Sir Robert finds him, depending on him more than on any
other in matters of this nature. The Prince of Prussia is restored
to his father's favour upon an oath taken by him never to disoblige

I*IRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 119

1730.

him ; he may chance soon to be King, for my Lord Chesterfield
writ our King word last post from Holland that the Eang of Prussia
was so ill it was thought he could not recover. How happy for
Europe if he should die ! How happy for England, for then the
double marriage would succeed ! How happy for the subjects of
Prussia on every account !

December 4. — This day my cousin Edward Southwell died,
aged about 63 years, of a kindly apoplectic fit, after having
suffered long by the hurt he received from the overturn of his
coach, for which he was frequently cut and slashed in the wounded
part, the leg. But he had some apoplectic fits before as well as
after that accident. No man had lead a more pleasant life, nor
died an easier death. He was beloved by all his acquaintance for
his cheerful obliging temper, and esteemed for his experience in
business. He was at the Revolution, with my uncle, Sir Robert
Southwell, his father, in Ireland, the years I^g Wilham fought
there. He afterwards served a Parliament or two in England,
succeeded Sir Robert in the office of Secretary of State and Privy
Seal of Ireland, and was for a time Commissioner of the Privy Seal
in England. He also was first clerk of the Council ; he also was
Secretary in Ireland to the Duke of Ormond ; he was chosen in all
the Parhaments of Ireland from his youth till his death.

My uncle left him, though an only son, a moderate estate of
about two thousand a year, but by frugality and his two marriages,
so augmented it that he has left six thousand a year. His first wife
was my Lady Betty Cromwell, who was an heiress of lands both
in Ireland and England ; but the estate being encumbered, he
sold off part and redeemed the rest, after which there remained
clear thirty-five thousand pounds. His second wife was a daughter
of Secretary Blathwayt, who brought liim ten thousand pounds.
She also died before him. By each of these ladies he left one son,
and both are living.

The eldest married a daughter of my Lord Sands, with ten
thousand pounds. He is about twenty-four years old, and a very
sober, virtuous man. She also is of a fine temper and a comely
young lady.

He left in his will that in case his eldest son should die without
children, I should be one of the trustees for William, his second
son, for his Irish estate, and, if I accepted it, that thirty pounds
should be paid me.

December 5. — ^I had several letters from Harwich that
Alderman Baker was elected Mayor without any opposition, which
shows the Philipson's party declines. Also Fennings and Richard
Philips want me to get them the packet boat which Captain Stevens,
it is believed, will quit or else be turned out of. The Mayor also
writ in favour of Cockeril, his brother-in-law. I writ immediately
to Mr. Horace Walpole to recommend Richard Phihps to the
Post Office for it, and excused myself to the other gentlemen as
being engaged to him first.

December 7. — ^I had a letter from Mr. Hales, the minister,, that
the trustees of D 'Alone 's legacy for converting negroes to
Christianity had agreed to change the trusteeship and make it
over to other hands, in favour of my desire to be quit of it, a form
of resignation being sent me at the same time ; I, not liking it,
sent it to Councillor Annesley for his advice.

120 DIARY OF THE

Dec. 14-28

December 14. — ^This day I received a letter from Mr. Amiesley
that the form was absurd, and not safe for me nor for the Trust.
I also received a letter from Mr. Oglethorpe that the project goes
cheerfully on for settling a colony in Carohna.

December 17. — I received divers letters from London touching
a report that my son was going to marry my Lady Londonderry,
widow of the late Lord Londonderry, who has a jointure of nineteen
hundred a year, but who is near nine years older than my son,
and of whom the town thinks very disadvantageously.

December 19. — I writ an answer that there was not a thought
of either in the lady, or my son, or us, but that the town wronged
much my lady's character, being a virtuous, reUgious and sensible
woman.

About the same time, I had a letter from Robert Craige that
the Duke of Argyle had offered him a sub-clerk's place in the
Store Keeper's Office of Minorca, value two shillings per diem,
desiring my advice if he should accept it ; to which I replied, if I
was in his case I would accept it. Some days after he
writ me that he had accepted it. This will be good news to
Richard Phihps, who recommended him to me, and whose relation
he is.

December 23. — This day I received a letter from Mr. Horace
Walpole that he had given my letter to Sir Robert his brother,
who promised to go with it to Harrison, and recommend Philips
for Stevens' packet boat.

I had also a letter from Dr. Couraye that the Queen had doubled
his pension, and made it two hundred a year. This is a great
satisfaction to me, who invited him over, and justifies the counten-
ance I have ever since given him. It also does honour to her
Majesty to consider in this manner a learned Papist who writ in
defence of our EngUsh Ordinations.

I have within this twelvemonths received several obUgations
from the Court.

1. His Majesty's many gracious and kind expressions of me to
others, and his and the Queen's particular notice of me whenever
I come to Court.

2. His Majesty's readiness to reprieve a highwayman condemned,
which I was pressed to desire, and which had succeeded but for
my Lord Townsend.

3. The favours to Dr. Couraye, greatly on my account.

4. The disposition of serving my recommendation of Richard
Phihps to be captain of a packet boat ; the changing Dumaresque's
station as I would have it ; the allowing Captain John Philips to
leave his station to vote for my interest in Harwich; and the turning
out of Phihpson from being Commissary of the Packets there,
because he withstood my interest, which was entirely his Majesty's
own doing, and that with expedition.

5. The granting of a pension to my sister Dering of two hundred
a year, which I desired, and am assured will be speedily granted :
better than I expected for her. What I desired was two hundred
a year for thirty-two years to her and her daughter.

I have not heard in my whole life such blasphemy as the Earl of
Thomond uttered unthinkingly this day We were talking of
the King of Prussia's treading on the toe of a gentleman, upon
which my Lord said hastily, that if God Almighty trod on his

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. l2l

1730.

toe, he would never forgive him. My son, when I told it him,
said, he was sure he was both a proud man and a coward

December 24 — Mrs. Fry died this day at Bath, and finding
herself expiring, sent for a Quaker, whom she obliged solemnly
to promise that as soon as she should die he would repair to my
Lord Chancellor, and tell him from her that he was the cause of
her death.

This gentlewoman was mother to a young woman to whom
my Lord Chancellor was guardian, and my Lord married her at
twelve years old to his eldest son, because she was a great fortune ;
but she being so young, the children were only put between the
bedclothes, since which, though grown up, they never consum-
mated ; but Sir Peter caused them to separate, though he detains
her fortune. The young man lately writ his wife that he was
willing to live with her, but her parents would not suffer him.

My Lady King is charged by the world with influencing her
husband to act in this scandalous manner. She saj^s to everybody
that her daughter-in-law is ugly, and a fool, to which the young
woman replies that they knew she was ugly before they made the
marriage, and as much a fool as she is, she never showed it more
than marrjdng Mr. King.

December 26. — This day JVIr. Horatio Walpole writ me that
Sir Robert had spoke to Mr. Harrison of the Post Office that
Richard Philips might succeed Captain Stevens in the Packets,
and that he doubted it not.

December 28. — This day I finished my " Treatise of the Duty
of Obedience to Government in general, and to the present Govern-
ment of England in particular," in three sections.

122 DIARY or THE

Jan. 3-21

1731.

January 3, Sunday. — This day I writ a small discourse entitled,
" Some Thoughts concerning Religion, and the Reformation from
Popery."

4, Monday. — This day Mr. Gierke writ me word that the King
had ordered my sister Dering a pension in England of two hundred
pounds a year. I desired he would return our thanks to
Lord Grantham, and that Lord Grantham would give our thanks
to the Royal Family.

5, Tuesday. — Sir Henry Ashurst, Mr. Alderman Perry, Mr. Jacom,
Mr. Done, Mr. Hanbury, and myself at Leak's shop. Mr. Done
said the great Tory patriot, Sir John Packington, has a pension
on the Irish Establishment in Queen Anne's reign of one thousand
a year. Discoursing of the petitions preparing by the woollen
manufacturers in several parts of the kingdom, to be presented to
the Parliament, for further measures to prevent the rumiing wool
to France, and for reviving this manufacture, Mr. Jacom said he
could not tell what could be done, only to make labour cheap,
and that could only be by bringing in Irish cattle ; but he thought
the House would not agree to it, because of the number of breeding
counties in England. Mr. Perry said the drawback on the export
of corn should be taken off, for by that encouragement to sell our
corn abroad, the price of what remained at home was raised the
higher, and consequently made labour dear.

Mr. Done said if the drawback was taken off, the farmers would
suffer so much that rents would fall, and that xmder five shillings
a bushel the farmer cannot live. I said I questioned whether,
if they did repeal the prohibition upon Irish cattle, they would
see any cattle sent, because the Irish had now fallen into the
slaughtering and manufacturing it themselves to send abroad.
But the only way to ruin the French manufacture of cloth, was
to suffer Ireland to make cloth again for exportation, for labour
is cheap in Ireland, and the wool their own. That England cannot
make cloth so cheap as Ireland ; and therefore, take what methods
you please, France must still flourish in that trade, and keep us
under, unless we suffer Ireland to export their manufacture, which
will come out as cheap as that made in France.

That it were better our fellow subjects should have the trade
than France, though England were not the better, and yet in truth
England would be the better because, before the year is out, all
the profit Ireland makes would come to England. Mr. Jacom
would not agree to this, but said all the discouragements upon
bringing w ool and worsted yam from Ireland ought to be removed,
for otherwise it was unreasonable to expect that Ireland should
not run their wool to France, rather than have it lie waste and
perish on their hands.

Talking of the Duke of Ormond, Mr. Hanbury said that when
that Duke was dismissed the late King's service, at his Majesty's
landing at Greenwich, my Lord Townsend told him his Majestj^'s
orders to him was to acquaint his Grace that the Duke of
Marlborough having been unjustly displaced from the post of
Captain General, his Majesty thought it reasonable to restore
him to it, and therefore his Grace must not take it ill that he
was removed from it ; but anything else in his power to give was

FIRST VISCOUNt PERClVAt. l23

1730-1.

at ids Grace's service, his Majesty desiring to make use of his
services ; that my Lord desired the King would give him leave
to put his commands in writing, which was readily consented to,
and done ; that he met his Grace on the stairs, and there read to
him his Majesty's pleasure, whereupon the Duke turned short,
and went immediately back to London without waiting on the
King. My Lord also told Mr. Hanbury that when my
Lord Bohiigbroke had leave to return, the Duke had intimation
that his Majesty would also suffer him to come back, but that
he must not expect to have the blue garter restored to him, for
that was given to another ; but the Duke . upon that foolish punctilio,
refused his Majesty's favour and chose to remain in Spain.

19 January. — My poor sister Dering, after a lingering illness,
was this day taken ill so much for the worse, that she believed she
should not recover, and desired to make her will before her senses
should be disordered ; accordingly I next day sent for Mr. Walters,
the attorney, by her order, and by instructions taken from her
mouth and set down in writing, which I read to her first ;
Mr. Walters drew the will, which he read to her before it was signed
in presence of the witnesses, and she said she approved it all :
the substance is, that she ratifies as much as in her lay her marriage
settlement and her daughter's interest therein ; that after her
funeral expenses and just debts paid she bequeathed to Hannah
Eady, her chambermaid, in consideration of her good service, 2501. ;
to her sister-in-law, my Lady Parker, 50/. ; to her sister, my wife,
501. ; to Susan, her housemaid, 10/. That the residue of what
she has be given her daughter, who if she should die before the
age of 21, or day of marriage, then all to go to my wife. Mrs. Philips,
the gentlewoman where we lodge, Mary Blowers, my daughter's
maid, and Mr. Walters, who drew the will, were witnesses, and
by the will my wife and I are made sole trustees and guardians
of her child.

21 January. — She began to be light-headed a little, but generally
sensible, lay pretty quiet, and said Httle, having a difficulty to
speak or to be heard. She talked to me of her dying, and said she
hoped she should be saved, for her intention was always right and
to please God ; that she had her frailties like all others, but God
was merciful. She added, that she desired to know what I thought
of her breaking a resolution she had made when very young, never
to say her prayers but on her knees ; that she could not tell if she
had swore to do so or not, but that she never had failed in it till
her arrival at Bath, when, the first night, she was so fatigued and
ill that she had not power to pray on her knees, but did it as she
lay in bed, which now in recollecting past matters was a scruple
to her. I answered that as to human frailties all mankind had
them, and that God who for Christ's sake pardons the greatest
sinners upon repentance, does undoubtedly overlook lesser matters,
many of which are involuntary or inadvertent ; that He looks at
the heart and constant habit of endeavouring to please Him, and
that He is too good to take advantage of single faults to make us
miserable. That she had made a good mfe, a good mother, a good
mistress, a good sister, a good friend, and had ever been scrupulous
not to offend God, and had no reason to doubt her salvation thro'
Christ, and that as to the particular scruple she mentioned, she
was not to be troubled at it, for God does not expect impossibilities

124 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 21-Feb. 3
or unreasonable performances, where the body is weak and unable
to do what the inind desires. She remained satisfied.

22 January. — The last night she seemed not to sleep, and in the
morning was light-headed. She sent for me early and talked
disorderly, but frequently recovered herself ; she stiQ declined, and
her voice grew weaker, took now and then a small cup of broth
and cordials, but to no purpose. Her pulse gradually diminished.
The doctors declared there was no hopes. I gave her a poached
egg. She was a little restless with her blisters, the piles, and a
short cough, but still almost insensible of pain.

23 January. — The last night she seemed to sleep, but when she
sent for me about five a clock in the morning said she had not
slept at all. She talked disorderly, but recovering herself took
a cup of broth. Her voice was now scarce to be understood, and
her weakness grew on. About 12 she desired to see my wife, who
came, and they kist each other. After dimier she sent for me
again to tell me she was now in her senses, but should be so but a
quarter of an hour, for she found herself dying. I had invited
Mr. Chapman to dinner to give her the sacrament ; which she had
once mentioned, but I found her in a condition not to receive,
and told Mr. Chapman so ; whereon he said that her intention to
receive was the same in God's eyes as the actually doing it, seeing
she was not able. I took an opportunity to tell her that it was
a glorious thing to die in God's favour, and to think that Christ
had suffered the most painful death to atone for all our sins, and
that we are able to apply his merits to ourselves by faith in Him,
which she could do, having Hved so good a life ; she cast up her
eyes and said she hoped she should go to Heaven. She then
desired I would do generously by the servants of the house, who
had been troubled and fatigued on her account. She had great
difficulty to speak, and it was so low I could not hear her but by
putting my ear to her mouth. About 8 she desired me to send
for the mistress of the house, who came, and she told her that
I would take care of everything, meaning to pay her. After this
she said she would sleep and lay quiet, but it appeared she did
not sleep.

24 January. — About three a clock this morning she shewed
herself in perfect senses, and from that time till half an hour after
four, when she expired, prayed continually to herself, clasping
her hands often together, and sometimes joining them together
over her head, speaking continually till her voice sunk, but so
low that what she said could not be heard. She died away more
gradually than a lamp going out, or a lamb falling to sleep, and
they who were in the room, for I could not bear to be there, said
they never in their lives saw nor heard of so composed and gentle
and sweet an end.

" Mark the death of the righteous, their end is peace."
She was but 39 j'^ears, and was possest of all the great virtues
men esteem in others. The greatest piety, even to scruple, without
affectation ; the greatest compassion and generosity in her temper,
the greatest principles of honesty and justice, all added to extra-
ordinary good sense. Her courage was as great as any general's,
but she could not stand the shock of my brother Dering's death :
from that moment she fell desperately ill, and continued declining
to this day. The thought of death alarmed her nothing, the parting

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 125

1730-1.

with her sister and me, and with her little child, whom she was
so fond of, was with such resignation to God's will, that in this last
five days' illness she did not desire to see the latter once, her sister
but twice, and me only to talk of her soul, and to deUver her
directions. Surely, if any of this age have gone to Heaven, a
place is secured for her.

25 January, Monday. — This day I agreed with an undertaker
to carry her corpse to Arwaston to be buried by her husband,
and hired a mourning coach to attend the hearse, and have ordered
that her maid Hannah Eady and her other maid servant, together
with Hossack, my valet de chambre, to go to Arwaston in it, and
my sister's coachman to drive the hearse.

I \vrit also to my cousin Comwallis, parson of Arwaston, to preach
a sermon, and to Fisher, my brother's steward, to be chief mourner ;
and to Richard Philips to speak to Mr. Sanson, Commissary of the
Packets at Harwich, to the Mayor Baker, to Clements, Coleman
and Dumaresque, to bear up the pall, with him.

28. — The corpse set out, and ourselves the same to London,
where I arrived the 31.

February 1. — I went to Charlton and returned at night, leaving
orders that my sister's two scriptores wherein were papers should
be sent me to London.

In the evening, brother Percival, Mr. Clerk, and Lord Grantham
called on me.

The same day Mr. Sands brought in the Pension Bill, which was
voted to be read ; for it, 144 ; against it, 140.

The estimate of the land forces was likewise voted ; for it, 240 ;
against it, 130.

2. — Came to see me, Mr. Dieupar, Blackwood, Colonel Selwin,
brother Percival, Sir Edmond Bacon, John Temple, Lord
Palmerston his brother, Horace Walpole, Mr. Southwell, and
Mr. Augustus Schutz. The last came t^vice (as I found by
Sir Robert Walpole 's sending) to try me about the Pension Bill,
but I flatly refused to be against it, telling liim that my honour
and conscience obliged me to be for it. He said the King was
much set against the Bill ; I replied I was sure his Majesty would
like me the better for showing I had a principle, for he must con-
clude by m}^ not serving his inclinations in this affair, that the
zeal I have professed and shown on other occasions proceeds from
a principle.

Horace Walpole desired me to be next day at the House, because
the affair of the Hessian troops came on, which I promised ; he
at the same time gave me a pamphlet (which he and Mr. Pointz
together writ), entitled, " Considerations on the Present state of
affairs in Great Britain." I told him I would read it for pleasure,
but not for conviction.

At night brother Parker and cousin Le Grand came to see me.

3. — This day. Colonel Flower, Colonel IVIidleton, Mr. Burr,
Colonel Schutz, Mr. Tripland, came to see me, and I returned
the visit of Mr. Clerk ; after which I went to the House, it being
a great day, for the maintaining the Hessian troops was to be
debated and resolved to be opposed.

The Speakers for the Court, and against, were as follows :
Sir William Strickland, Secretary at War, made the motion for
referring the consideration of it to a Committee, but the other

126 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 3-8
side entered directly on the matter, and were not so much as for
considering it at all.

The anti -courtiers who spoke were — Mr Heathcote, Mr. Noel,
Mr. Geer, IVfr. Sands, Daniel Pulteney, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Vjrner,
Mr. Wortley, Mr. Plummer, Sir Joseph Jekyl, Mr. Windham,
Lord Tyrconnel, Mr. Digby, Mr. Oglethorp, Sir Thomas Aston,
Lord Morpeth, Captain Vernon, Sir Thomas Sanderson,
Mr. Oglethorp (sic).

The courtiers were — Sir William Strickland, Sir William Young,
Mr. Comwallis, Mr. Whitworth, Mr. Fortescue, General Sutton,
Sir Edmund Bacon, Mr. Lewis, Colonel Bladen, Lord Malpas,
Mr. Winnington, Sir Archer Crofts, Mr. Pelham, Mi". Vemey,

At nine at night we carried the question for referring it to a
Committee, 249 ; against, 164. The great objection was that
these troops are not necessary, or, if any, that Englishmen should
be employed, which, however, they differed in among themselves,
and that these troops were only kept to defend Hanover. But
the necessity of them was shown ; we ought to make peace sword
in hand ; if we should disband these troops (which none of the
Allies have done by theirs), the alliance would be dissolved, and
the Emperor. would not comply, which otherwise he will be obliged
to do soon, for want of money to pay his armies. That Hanover
has indeed a collateral benefit by being defended by the help of
these troops, but the main advantage is to the common cause in
covering Holland ; and were the advantage alone to Hanover
we ought at least to look on the Electorate as a Protestant ally,
and it should not fare the worse for being under our own King.

Sir Thomas Aston wished the Eling would part with Hanover
to his second son, and Mr. Barnard declared if any would make
the motion he would second him.

Mr. Daniel Pulteney and Sir Joseph Jekyl endeavoured to show
that it was a crime in the Ministry to ask for money to maintain
the Hessians, because not particularly mentioned in the King's
Speech ; and they also urged that the Treaty with the Landgrave
of Hesse did not now subsist, nor was signed by a British Minister ;
but all this was very well answered.

February 4. — Mr. Cornwall and Mr. Ferguson came to see me,
and I went to Sir Robert Walpole's levee, who thanked me for
my service yesterday. I told him I only did my duty, but had
many thanks to return him, especially for his last favour in for-
warding and so soon dispatching the pension granted to the poor
widow for whom he saw me wear these cuffs He said he did it
with a great deal of pleasure ; I replied it put me under obligations
to his Majesty that in all things consistent with my honour and
principle, and conscience, I should show myself zealous for his
Majesty's service. He answered, I spoke like an honest man,
but the King desired nothing but what was right. I said I believed
so, but both his Majesty and himself perceived there was a great
spirit of opposition to his measures, also to his own person, and
what I said was to assure him that what I meant was not only
in support of the King, but personally ^vith respect to himself.
He took the compliment with great pleasure, and said I might
depend on any services he could do me, then told me my
Lord Grantham had spoken to him for a pension for my niece
Dering, and asked me if one hundred pounds a year would do.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 127

1730-1.

I replied, it was very kind to offer it before desired, that it would

help to maintain the child, and I should be much obliged to him

for it. He answered he would do what he could in it with pleasure,

and so I took my leave, and visited Lord Grantham and brother

Percival.

Lord Grantham told me he had made my compliments to the
King and Queen for the pension my sister had granted her, and
that the King said he had a great value for me, and should always
take opportunities of showing it. My Lord told me also that he
had spoke to Sir Robert about a pension for my niece, and then
asked me if I would be for the Pension Bill. I answered I could
not in honour and conscience, and I wished his Majest}^ would
forbear opposing it, because I verily believed it would be carried,
and it would only disgust his people, which though he was too
strong to apprehend, yet his goodness would rather have their
love ; than their hate or fear. He said Sir Robert told him I would
not be for it, nor Sir Philip Parker either, which shows how the
Ministry have been telling noses.

In the evening I called on the Spring Garden families and
Lady Londonderry.

5. — To-day Colonel Negus, Mr. Duncomb, Mr. Clark,
Mr. Oglethorp, and Sir John Bland came to see me. I called on
Horace Walpole, Sir Edmond Bacon, and Lord Palmerston. I
went to the House, where we put off the second reading the Pension
Bill to Thursday. At night brother Parker came.

6. — To-day I visited Colonel Selwyn, Mr. John Temple,
Lord Wilmington, and afterwards went to Court, the King seeing
company for the first time since his late feverish cold and inflam-
mation of the throat. He stayed out but a very little time, and
spoke but to three persons. I was the first. He said, I had been
ill at Bath, he heard, and when did I come to town ? I answered,
I had been in no danger, only a little pain ; that I came to town
on Sunday. He said pain was bad enough. As little and few
as these questions appear, yet at our Court they are a great many,
for it seems to me as if his Majesty, knomng his dignity, is careful
of what he should not say, rather than what he should. His
question to the Buke of Newcastle was whether the wind was fair
for packets. To which he answered he could not tell, which I
thought an odd reply from a Secretary of State. The third he
spoke to was the Duke of Argyle about a cure for a cold.

My brother Percival came home to dinner with me, and in the
evening Mr. Oglethorp came again to talk over the Carolina settle-
ment, which is in a good way. The Board of Trade have reported
in favour of it, and we the undertakers or managers have the
government of the people we send thither for twenty-one years,
with a large track of land granted, that lies between two rivers.

After he went away, cousin Southwell came and sat an hour.

Sunday, 7. — Went in the evening to the King's Chapel ; after-
wards visited Lady Londonderry, Horace Walpole and lady,
brother Parker and lady, cousin Southwell and lady. Lady
Londonderry only at home.

Monday, 8 February. — This day I returned visits to Colonel Negus,
Mr. Blackwood, Mr. Flower, Mr. Augustus Schutz, Colonel Schutz,
and Sir Thomas Hanmer. Afterwards I went to Court to wait
on the Queen, who was very civil to me. After dinner, I went to

128 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 8-13
the House, where a debate arising whether the estimate for the
Wolfembottel troops in our pay should be referred to a Committee
(which was a surprise upon the members), it was carried in the
Committee to refer, 194 ; against, 112.

Tuesday, 9. — I went to the Committee appointed to consider
of the Bristol petition, complaining of the decay of the woollen
manufacturer, and desiring further care may be taken to prohibit
the exportation of Irish and English wool, and that Irish yam
may come in duty free. Mr. Scroop was in the chair, and eleven
petitions Avere read to the same purpose, six whereof prayed that
Irish yam might come in duty free. After which the Committee
examined several witnesses to the truth of the allegations of the
petitions, and then resolved that the petitioners had made good
their petitions. It appeared that both English and Irish wool
is carried daily in great quantities to Rotterdam and other parts
of Holland, to Liege, Aix-la-Chapelle, Dunkirk, and other parts
of Flanders, as Bruges, Memn, Lisle, etc. ; to Bordeaux in France,
and manufactured at Abbeville, Tancarville, Charleval, Elbeuf
in Languedoc, etc.

That the Flemish wool is coarse and hairy, and cannot make
vendible cloth or stuff without a mixture of English or Irish wool ;
that neither can the French wool, and that the mixture is one
pound of English wool to tAvo pounds of foreign.

That since the Parliament of Ireland took of the duty laid in
Ireland upon wool exported to England, the French King appre-
hending the Irish raw wool would not be run to France so freely
as usual, had half a year ago repealed the ancient edicts that
prohibited the importation of foreign wool and bay yam into
France, choosing rather to pay for our yam than to be wholly
deprived of our avooI, which showed the necessity they are under
to make use of foreign wool.

That French cloth has been sold in England and Ireland ; that
as much wool is rmi from England as from Ireland to France,
and that nothing is easier than to run wool down the river from
London, which one of the informers of the Committee himself
did, and owned to us telling us the manner.

That 'twas the general opinion of all the persons examined, that
if the Parliament will take off the duty on Irish yam, as the Irish
Parliament has done that on raw wool exported to England,
England will have all the wool and yam Ireland can spare, and
France have none of it, and they added that the people of Ireland
desired nothing more than that England should have it.

Notice was taken of one article of complaint in the petition
from Exeter, namely, that Ireland manufactures stuffs and camlets
which they run to Lisbon. This was verified by one evidence,
who says his master, Sir Peter Delmee, had a letter from his corres-
pondents at Lisbon telling him that the Irish stuffs quite beat
out the English there, because they sold thirty per cent, cheaper,
and were better liked, and therefore that correspondents sent
Sir Peter a pattern of Irish stuff, desiring him to get as good made
as cheap in England, if it could be. This was yet a stronger argu-
ment for taking off the duty on Irish yarn. In conclusion, all the
Committee appeared well satisfied to take off the duty on Irish yam.

After dinner I went to the Bedford Arms taVem in the
little peaches Co vent Garden, and met Mr. Ogle thorp, Colonel

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 129

1730-1.

Carpenter, Mr. Vemon, Mr. Hucks, Mr. Towrs, junior, Mr.
Heathcote, Captain Heathcote, Mr. Moor, and Mr. Digby, to
consider of a scruple arisen in some gentlemen's heads, whether
the acceptance of the government of the colony we are sending
to Carolina, doth not vacate our seats in Parliament, and what
we should do to remedy it, supposing it so. Some gentlemen
proposed to take the sense of the House upon it, but others said
that was not conclusive, nor of certain security, for we are by
our charter to be incorporated for twenty-one years, and another
Parliament may be of another mind. Mr. Oglethorp proposed
to have a short Act of Parliament to qualify us for holding our
seats, as is provided for in the South Sea Act in favour of several
members at that time of the House constituted directors of that
Company. We all agreed to it, only I proposed Sir Robert Walpole
should be first acquainted with it, or otherwise it would look as
if we slighted the Bang's Charter and prerogative, besides that
'tis but a fitting compliment to the Ministry, who if they pleased
might from the beginning have stifled our design. So Mr. Oglethorp
and I are to acquaint Sir Robert on Thursday next with it, when
we meet him in the House.

Cousin Fortrey dined with me to-day, and acknowledged his
debt to my brother Dering of 100?., which he said he would pay
in May next.

Wednesday, 10. — I stirred not out, being employed in my niece
Dering's affairs. Dr. Couraye and brother Percival dined with
me. Colonel Schulz called on me, Dr. Hollins and brother Parker
likewise.

One Dun worth, in Ireland, sent me a proposal of 10 shill. an acre
for the first seven years, IO5. 6d. the next seven years, and 11 shill.
the remainder, of a lease of lives or 41 years of the farm of
Ballinegurroh, which fell into my hands by the death of Phil. Crofts,
Esq., on the 29 of Jany. last. I also had a letter from Mr. Taylor
that Jo. Purcell had offered 251. a year for Gusteenard for a new
lease.

It now is certain that the King of Spain has declared by a
manifesto to our Court that he will be bound no longer by the
Seville Treaty and that he has concluded a new treaty with the
Emperor. We had just concluded an alhance with the Emperor
in which Holland and Prussia were joined, but upon the Ministry
of Hanover insisting that something should be done in particular
for Hanover, the Emperor had renounced his treaty, a matter
that I much deplore, and which will exceedingly endanger the
Ministry.

Thursday, 11 February. — This day I called on cousin Le Grand,
went afterwards to the House, where the Pension Bill was com-
mitted for Tuesday next without opposition.

Friday, 12. — Stayed at home the morning, and dined with
Mr. Dodington, where the company were Sir Robert Walpole,
Horace Walpole, Lord Harvey, Sir George Saville, Mr. Bridges,
Mr. Hedges, Sir William Strickland, Mr. Carey, Mr. Camell,
Mr. Nicols.

Saturday, 13. — Visited Mr. Cornwall, and Sir John Guise. After-
wards went to Court to get my son introduced to the King and
Queen for the first time. He kissed their hands, and the Queen
had the goodness to tell me she had heard a great many good

Wt. 24408. K 9

130 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 13-16
things of him. I replied I had taken care to breed him a loyal
subject. She said in return whatever came out of my hands
must be good.

Sunday, 14. — Went to morning chapel, prayers at 8. Afterwards
went to the Prince's levee to get my son introduced, which was
done. The Prince said as the Queen had done, that he had heard
a very good character of my son, a great many good things said
of him. I answered his Roj^al Highness was very good to receive
favourable impressions of him. He asked me several questions
about him, as also of my niece Dering and my wife.

Mr. Clerk dined with me, and in the evening cousin Le Gendre
came, and acquainted me that Monsr. De Berville and Monsr. Colande
in France were well, and always asked after me.

Monday, 15. — This morning Baron Botmar visited me, and
afterAvards I went to the Committee appointed to sit on the Bristol
petition against Irish and English wool run to foreign parts, where
a certificate was given in evidence of five thousand two hundred
and fifty-nine pieces of camlet wrought in Ireland and sold in
Lisbon, anno. 1729 ; and of four thousand eight hundred and
sixty-six pieces of the same sold there amio. 1730, each piece
containing one hundred and ten yards at two hundred and twenty
rees per yard, which I computed at about seventeen pence three
farthings. The certificate was to satisfy that the account of pieces
of camlet above mentioned was taken out of the King of Portugal's
Custom House books, and Mr. Compton, our Consul, signed it, with
several eminent Portugal merchants. It appeared to us in evidence
that these pieces were sold thirty per cent, cheaper, and yet were
better than the English camlets sent thither, and that Avhile they
lasted, the English goods lay on hand. That they were run from
Cork, rolled up and put into sacks or canvas. That other Irish
stuffs were likewise run to Lisbon as friezes, ratines, shaloons,
calamancas, etc. Another evidence, one Thomas Allen, a Turkey
merchant, informed ^^t lliat ne was seven years ago at Marseilles,
where he w^i shown silk and mohair yam of Sherba (a place in
Tiirlioj) made up for to be sent to Dublin ; that Marseilles sends
annually thither to the quantity of sixty or eighty bales, each bale
worth about one hundred and thirty pounds sterling.

A third evidence said that our English cloth sent from Leghorn
had a duty in Turkey lately laid on it of twenty per cent., which
amounts almost to a prohibition, which he attributed to the Turkey
Company, who laboured to discourage private traders to that
Empire, and thereby greatly hurt the export of our manufactures ;
but Sir John Williams, a member of our House and the greatest
exporter of cloth in England of any private man, denied there
is any such duty, and so did other merchants who attended to
inform the Committee. But one Higham, a factor, insisted it was
true, and said himself had a letter of it with orders to put the
French mark on our goods, that they might pass under that
disguise.

Many of the Committee thought this enquiry into the procedure
of the Turkey Company did not relate to the business of the Com-
mittee, which was by order of the House only to consider of the
petitions delivered against the running of wool, and to report
whether the allegations therein contained were true. But other
gentlemen said we were to consider of the low state of our manu-

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 131

1730-1.

facture, which took in the means that have brought it to this
pass, and how to redress things ; and therefore they thought it
proper we should inform ourselves of a great variety of things.
Sir William Young therefore mentioned the great inconveniencies
arising from an Act passed seven years ago, prohibiting raw silk
coming from Leghorn, which he hoped the House would repeal,
and 'Mr. Sands thought it might be proper to pass a law to prohibit
Ireland's trading with France in that commodity. Sir WiUiam
Young replied he could not go so far as that, for we might as well
pretend to hinder Ireland from trading at all with that kingdom ;
that it was hard to tie Ireland up so strictly, but he believed the
French are already hindered from sending their raw silk to us.
There were none present could tell truly how that matter stands.
In conclusion, Sir John Williams and one or two more said that
taking off the duty upon Irish yam, and watching well the coast,
would retrieve our manufacture, and so we broke up without coming
to any resolution, only to meet again on Thursday.

The Barbadoes merchants, distrusting their success at the
Council Board, and unwilling to wait the petition expected from
New England, which ^vill oppose their desires, intend, as I am
informed, to petition the House very speedily. A member of our
House, who is much concerned for Barbadoes, told me they intend
to drop their complaint against Ireland, and would persuade me
that Ireland will be a gainer by depriving us of trading with the
French plantations, if we are suffered to bring sugars and rum
directly from Barbadoes ; I answered, we should lose the beef
trade in a great measure when we lost one of our markets, and
that Barbadoes would afterwards give us their own price ; besides,
that the sugars we took from Barbadoes is but a very small
quantity, but if England would take off the hardships we lie under
as to the enumerated goods, it would be well for England and
all of us. He agreed to it, and said he levelled only against New
England, which in a little time will without some extraordinary
care rum Barbadoes -by her traffic with the French planta-
tions.

There is a meeting of the Barbadoes merchants and some Irish
gentlemen this night, to which I was invited, but could not go.
I shall know what will be resolved on, and will give you an account.
In the meantime the Ministry are, I think, for putting off the affair ;
and I know Mr. Hambleton is pretty sanguine ; so I hope things
will end well for us.

I dined at home, and brother Parker came in the evening.

Tuesday, 16 February. — ^I went to a private Committee appointed
to bring in a Bill for qualifying my cousin Ned Southwell for his
employment of Secretary of State in Ireland, by suffering him to
take the oaths in England instead of Ireland. Afterwards I
attended the Committee appointed to consider of the petitions sent
up from Yorkshire for altering the law, by making presentments in
English instead of Latin, and I left them, being of opinion they
will be able to do little upon it.

I then went down to the House, where several more petitions
were presented relating to the bad state of our manufacture, and
desiring the duty on Irish yam may be taken off ; some estimates
and accounts were given in, and then Sir Abraham Elton presented
a petition from the merchants of Bristol complaining of the

132 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 16
Spaniards continuing to take our ships in America, and desiring
redress.

Sir William Windham thereupon said this was a proper oppor-
tunity to enquire what our commissioners sent last year to
Spain have done towards settling our demands of restitution
for the injuries done us by the Spaniards, and moved to address
the King for an account thereof, which was seconded.

Sir Charles Wager said there were vigorous orders sent to the
West Indies to our ships to protect our trade a good while since,
and believes those orders are by this time arrived, that more ships
are speedily to be sent for that purpose, and therefore does not
see an}^ occasion the Bristol merchants have to petition, since
all is already done that can be done.

Colonel Bladen said the Treaty of Seville leaves the report of
the transactions between our commissioners and the Spanish
commissioners to be made to the Kings of England and Spain, and
requires no report from them till the disputes are finally adjusted,
but as the final adjustment is not made, the King is not ripe to
inform the House, wherefore it would be to no purpose to address.
That the truth of the thing is, the King has been as backward to
go into a war for the sake of Don Carlos, as the King of Spain has
been forward he should, and therefore the King of Spain has been
dilatory in settling this dispute about their capture of our
ships.

Will. Pulteney observed a contradiction between Sir Charles
Wager and Colonel Bladen ; that one said vigorous orders were given,
which he understood was to take the Spanish ships, which was in
effect to make war on the Spaniards, but the other said the King's
purpose was not to make war ; he hoped we should do justice to
our merchants, and address the King as had been moved ; and
he hoped, too, when the House sat upon the petition, that we
should enter into a consideration of Gibraltar, and the works
carrying on there. He further desired to know if the King of
Spain has not declared the Treaty of Seville no longer binding.

Bladen answered him, that there was no contradiction between
him and Sir Charles Wager, for the protection of our trade in ever
so vigorous a manner could not be understood a falling out with
Spain.

Pelham said he was against the address, because no knowledge
could yet be obtained ; that as to the Treaty of Seville's being
broke by the King of Spain it is not true, it still subsists, only
there have been delays in the execution, but 'tis now under con-
sideration how to execute it. At last the Bristol petition was
ordered to be considered this day fortnight in a Committee of the
whole House, and it was likewise agreed to address the Kong to
lay before us what proceedings have been made by our commis-
missioners towards settling our disputes relating to the captures.
The House then called for the order of the day, and called over
the names of defaulters, who all but two appeared in their places.

Then the House resolved itself into a Committee upon the
Pension Bill, and Sir Edward Stanley was called to the chair.
The blanks were filled up, and no sort of opposition given, till
the day for receiving the report was moved for. Mr. Sands moved
for to-morrow. Sir Robert Walpole for Thursday ; numbers of
members called out to report it immediately.

SlRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 13^

1730-1.

Upon this Pelham got up, and said lie was indifferent for Thursday
or to-morrow, but if gentlemen would press it so fast as to have it
now, he would be against it, and even against the Bill itself. Sands
said he was for making dispatch with the Bill, because our readiness
therein would clear the reputation of the House from reflections
the country cast on us as if we were a pensioned Parliament.

Mr. Pelham said he hoped that had never been suggested and
made a ground for bringing in this Bill ; he was sorry now to dis-
cover it, and it would oblige him to be against the Bill ; how^ever
he would acquiesce in receivmg the report to-morrow. Mr. Dan vers
said he was just come out of the country, and that all expectations
were raised that this Bill should pass, and that it was certainly
true, the country does believe we are a pensioned Parliament.

Sir Joseph Jekyl made a long speech in a historical way to show
how former Parliaments have been pensioned, and the difficulties
cast in the Parliament's way by the Court to prevent a former
Pension Bill. That though he would not say the present Parhament
is pensioned, he would venture to apply to us what was said of
a former Parliament by one who had been Speaker, namely, that
if it was not pensioned he was sure it was very well officered.
Mr. Sands, seeing the spirit of the House, retracted his motion
for Wednesday, and desired the report might be now received.

Sir Robert Walpole said a division agamst receiving the report
now or Wednesday would be no honour nor advantage to the Bill,
and therefore he wondered that gentlemen who were for the Bill
would press the receiving it now, since they run the risk of a
division, because of the unparhamentariness of huddling a matter
of such consequence so fast, and the ill consequence of it in future
times ; what would those gentlemen have said if other matters which
have been carried by majorities against them, had been pressed
in like manner ? That the weakest member in the House could
not have spoke so weakly on this affair as Sir Joseph Jekyl had
done ; that he should not oppose receiving the report now, since
he saw the House inclined for it, but he could wish we deferred till
to-morrow for order sake, and because he disliked every part of
the Bill and intended to speak against it. Sir William Windham
said jokingly he was glad to see the time come that Sir Robert
complained of a majority ; that for his own part he had long
complained of it, nevertheless, if the majority were at this time
irregular in desiring to receive the report now, he should be against
them. That since Sir Robert was against the Bill, he should
have opposed the committal of it, or if he was against the" filling up
the blanks, he should have spoke at the time. He knew nobody
desired a division, it had not yet appeared that any did, because
no opposition has yet been made to the Bill. After this. Sir Edward
Stanley made his report, the question for doing it now, being put
by the Speaker, and only three or four gentlemen crying No.

Dined at home, and in the evening visited Sir John Evelyn,
who told me Mr, Walker and he would meet Sir Philip Parker at
my house and talk over the means for recalling Captain John
Philips to Harwich.

Afterwards I visited the Bishop of Lichfield, my old tutor.
Dr. Smalbrook, who complained much of the infidelity of the times,
and that we have a Republican party in the House of Commons,
such as Sands, etc. At night Sir Philip Parker came to see me.

134 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 17

Wednesday, 17 February 173}. — This morning I went to the
Duke of Dorset's levee, and, being alone with him, we talked over
the affairs of Ireland. Afterwards I went with my wife, and proved
the will of my sister. Then I went to the House, where the Pension
[Bill] had a third reading, and occasioned a debate until near six
o'clock, when the question being put for passing it, it went without
a division, only the Ministry and Placemen who were against it
thought fit to declare their sentiments. The persons who spoke
in the debate were in order as follows : —

For the Bill— 1, IVIr. Sands ; 3, Mr. Oglethorp ; 5, Mr. Wmdham ;
7, Mr. Bramston ; 8, Mr. Bootle ; 9, Mr. Papihon ; 10, Mr. Bootle
again ; 13, Will. Pulteney ; 15, Will. Pulteney again ; 16, Bootle
again ; 17, Mr. Heathcote ; 18, Mr. Dan vers ; 19, Papilion again ;
21, Old Bromley ; 22, Will. Pulteney again ; 24, Oglethorp again ;
25, Sir John St. Aubin.

Against the Bill — 2, Sir Archer Crofts ; 4, Sir William Young ;
6, Sir William Strickland ; 9, Sir William Young again ; 11,
Mr. Wimiington ; 12, Sir Wilham Young again ; 14, Mr. Winnington
again ; 20, Sir Robert Walpole ; 23, Pelham ; 26, Sir Charles Wager.

After Mr. Sands had put the House in mind of the order of the
day, namely, the giving the Pension Bill a third reading.

Sir Archer Crofts rose up, and declared his dislike of the Bill,
because it restrained freedom of debate. At this there was a loud
laugh, and gentlemen asked if a pensioner were free. He proceeded
to show the necessity there is, that the Crown should have an
influence over the House, to carry on the nation's interest and
service, and instanced Eang Wilham's reign, which prince was
continually thwarted, and lus wise measures spoiled by a wicked
and desperate faction, for want of a proper influence over the
House of Commons ; so that he must needs say a wicked and
desperate opposition to Court measures in Parhament has done
more hurt to the nation than a base submission to them. Here
the House laughed again as loud as before. To apply this wicked
and desperate opposition to the present times, he observed the
universal joy expressed at his Majesty's accession to the Crown,
yet how soon did a wicked and desperate opposition to his measures
arise when gentlemen attempted to take from him liis revenue,
and but the other day declared their wishes that they could force
from his Majesty his Hanover dominions. He therefore declared
it necessary the Crown should have an influence over the House,
which influences this Bill destroyed. Another objection he said
he had to the Bill, namely, that it imposes an oath, and an oath
of such a nature that we are sure will be broken. That the multiply-
ing of oaths is a wicked thing, and only on some, and those great
occasions allowable, but the present case he thought did not
require it.

Mr. Oglethorp said he was unwilling to interrupt that gentleman
while speaking, but now he must call him to order, and desire him
to explain himself what he meant by the words " wicked and
desperate opposition." That he hoped he meant none within
the House, for none who speak for liberty can do it wickedly and
desperately. Upon this. Sir Archer explained himself that he
only meant an opposition without doors, and the opposition made
in former Parliaments, which excuse, though a lame one, was
indulgently accepted.

i7RST viscouirr PERCivAti. l35

1730-1.

Then Sir William Young gave liis reasons for not approving the
Bill, and said there can be but two reasons offered for passing it,
1st, The preventing evil consequences from the Courts corrupting
the members by secret pensions, or places given in trust to others
for their benefit. But this is no reason to press a Bill of this nature
now, when every gentleman who had yesterday and before spoken
in favour of the Bill acquitted the House from even the suspicion of
corruption. 2nd, That good times are the only opportunities for
passiug Bills of this nature, but had this reason been really a sub-
stantial one in the opinion of those gentlemen who brought the
Bill in, they would certainly have mentioned it by way of preamble,
whereas the Bill has no preamble at all, so that no foundation
appears why such a Bill should pass. That he was against the
Bill for many reasons. First, It carries an imputation on the
House as if it is corrupt and wants to be purged, whereas no one
person has been shown to have a pension, or to hold a place in
trust. Secondly, It has been said that the country is possessed
of an opinion the House is corrupt, but the passing a Bill of this
nature will confirm them in that opmion, for they will believe we
think so ourselves. Thirdly, This Bill will weaken the support
of the Royal Family, as it will give occasion to scribblers and
disaffected persons to spread their venom. Fourthly, Supposing
the Bill ever so good in itself, it is not seasonable at this time,
for it will represent the King to foreign Courts as if he had no
interest with his Parliament, but by bribing and corrupting the
members. Fifthly, No instance has been given that the laws in
being are not sufficient to prevent corruption.

Mr. Windham spoke next, and observed the uncommon appro-
bation given this Bill from the rise of it to this day, having been
acquiesced in by all parties, and even the blanks filled up yesterday
in the Committee without a division ; that now to speak agaiust
it after such universal concurrence appears strange to him. That
he must insist, that good times only, a good reign, and an un-
corrupt House of Commons is the only opportmiity for passing
such a law, and will always be an opportunity. That if the casting
an imputation on the House be a reason for opposing the BiQ now,
it will always be a reason in future times, and we must give up
the hopes of ever preventing corruption. That we are not only
to consider the present honour and freedom of Parhaments, but
to secure this freedom to our posterity. That the balance of
power in the legislature, the poverty and luxury that reigns and
disposes the subject of corruption and baseness, and the welfare
of the Royal Famil;f , who can never be easy and safe but in a
confidence the subject entertains that it is not in the power of the
Crown to bribe the legislature, all conspire to make this Bill
necessary.

Sir William Strickland then gave his reasons against the Bill,
and said the question was, whether it is now proper such a Bill
should pass. He argued that it will be understood as a libel
against the Government, especially after the pains which has
been taken in print to vilify everj^hing this Parliament has done.
That the Craftsman and other libellers first endeavoured to mis-
represent the Ministry in order to remove a great man from the
King's councils ; when disappointed therein, they attacked the
honour and proceedings of the Parhament ; last of all, they levelled

136 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 17
against Majesty itself. He saw no good could come from the
Bill, but many inconveniences, and looked on it as an indirect way
to compass very evil ends.

Mr. Bramston spoke next for the Bill. He said the best and
clearest proof the House could give that it is micorrupt, is to pass
the Bill. Gentlemen seem to mistake it, those who wish the
Crown should have an influence over the House, will still have their
wish, for the power of rewarding merit by gratuities and pensions
is not taken away, only the members so rewarded are to be made
known, whch may prove to the honour of those gentlemen if
deserving, and to the honour of the Crown too, in letting the world
see how merit is considered by our Princes. That to infer from
the incorruptness of the House that this is an improper time for
such a Bill, is absurd, for only an incorrupt House can pass it,
and he wondered any gentleman should say it weakened his
Majesty's support. What, is it by corruption that the King sup-
ports himself ? The argument against the Bill, drawn from the
unfitness of multiplying oaths, was of no weight, for this oath
will not make men wickeder than they were before, for it is a very
small addition of crime, if any, in a man who takes a secret bribe to
betray his country and his trust in a legislative capacity if he
should forswear himself. K a highwayman should rob a traveller,
and being taken up on suspicion should swear to the constable
he was innocent, no man would think him more a rogue for his
swearing. To conclude, whatever fate the Bill should meet with,
this benefit would arise : if passed it would be a security for future
Parliaments, if rejected a warning to our electors.

Mr. Bootle spoke next, and said the Court had no need of an
additional influence by secret pensions, for a way had of late years
been found to split offices, as the Treasury, Admiralty, etc., and
so to fill the House with members, who held their places by no
other tenure but the mischief they did their country in this House.

These words were immediately taken down by Mr. Winnington,
and Sir Wilham Young rose up, warmly insisting the gentleman
should explain his words, for he took himself to be touched by
them, and thought they carried such a reflection, he could not
sit a moment longer if Mi\ Bootle did not explain his meaning.

Mr. Bootle replied he spoke of former times, and even of former
reigns, and wondered how he could be understood to mean the
present ParUament, with which Sir William Young declared himself
satisfied.

Mr. Pulteney then got up, and said he would justify what Bootle
had advanced, and apply it to present times. The gentleman
was observing that a great number of officers were members, by
the invention of splitting employments ; that by their means the
Chrown has a great influence over the House, because they have
their employments on account of their seats in Parliament. He
affirmed there were now two hundred and ten members in known
employments. That surely this was a sufficient influence over
a branch of the legislature which properly should be under no
influence whatsoever, but especially not under the influence of
another branch of the legislature.

Mr. Winnington (disposed to jest) said that Mr. Pulteney had
explained Bootle's meaning better than he had done himself ; how-
ever, he had done his friend an injury, he made him speak nonsense,

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 137

1730-1.

for the Bill relates only to pensions, but Mr. Bootle spoke against
places, which are not concerned in the debate, and he never knew
before that places were pensions.

Mr. Pulteney instantly replied : He hated to be thought to
speak nonsense ; his meaning was that if a person enjoys an office
he knows nothing of, he looked on that office to be no more than
a pension, which threw the jest back upon Winnington, lately
made a Lord of the Admiralty, and caused a prodigious laugh.

Mr. Bootle then went on. 'Tis urged (said he) that there is no
evidence that the laws in being with respect to corruption are
infringed ; I will not speak of this Parhament, but of former ones.
There was a Parliament notoriously known to be pensioned ; that
very Parliament impeached the chief Minister (Lord Danby),
whose monej^ they took, being forced thereto by the clamours
of the country, and laid to his charge that he had issued great
sums for unnecessary pensions and secret services. Thus we see
it would be no new thing if Parliaments should take shame to
themselves ; what has been, may be, and the country thinks we
now have pensions among us. He desired all IVIinisters would
consider that to seek to protect themselves by corrupting members,
is depending on a broken reed, for such persons would be the first
to abandon them in times of danger. As to the objection that this
Bill adds no security to the present Government, he hoped the
Government wanted it not, but he was sure it \\'ould shut the door
to corruption.

Mr. Heathcote observed that the opposing this Bill will not
clear the character of members suspected.

Mr. Dan vers observed that this Bill will secure the constitution,
for if the Commons without doors should conceive a jealousy that
we have pensioners as well as officers among us, they will believe
the money we raise upon them is by influence of the Crown, and
in such case fall out of love to Parliaments, and like as well that
the Crown should directly tax them. They the nation calls aloud
for this Bill, and cries that if corruption is within doors, the King
cannot know their condition nor the state of the kingdom.

Sir Robert Walpole said he would divide, only he thought it
incumbent on him to give his reasons against the Bill, because
he promised it. First, there is no discovery of the least symptom
of corruption in the House, and therefore no occasion for such a
Bill ; and, secondly, if there be corruption, this is not a proper
way to redress it. He thanked Bootle for his advice, which was
the only thing he should regard in his speech. That there never
was less occasion for this Bill, the present House of Commons
being the fullest of great estated men and the most independent
of any that ever was known ; that the present disposition for
passing this Bill is a proof of it, but he desired it might be observed
withal that the same independent House has by a great majority
approved all the measures of the Administration, from their first
sitting till this day, which cannot but reflect honour upon those
measures, when so many gentlemen who now out of a zeal for
liberty are gone over to vote for this Bill, did on other occasions
adhere to the Administration ; this he mentioned in defence of
his own character, which had so maliciously and industriously
been vilified over the kingdom. He must say that gentlemen
are unnecessarily afraid of being represented corrupt if they should

138 tHARY OF THE

Feb. 17
oppose the Bill, for the good things they have done for their country
is a sufficient proof of the strict execution of their trust. On
the other hand, he must say the Bill is in itself unjust, because
it takes place next June, and therefore must carry a reflection
on this present House of Commons, a reflection most unjust in
that no instance has been given of corruption, or one pensioner
named. The Bill is unjust also on other accounts ; it makes men
swear they will not hold a pension during pleasure or an office in
trust, which yet by the law of the land they are allowed to do ;
besides, is it impossible a member should do lus duty to his country
if he has a place in trust or a gratuity from the Crown ? But it
is said a member may still hold either of them, provided he fairly
owns it to the House. But are we come to this pass that a House
of Commons shall make themselves judges who deserves the King's
favours ? This is altering the Constitution, 'tis taking from
the Crown the free power of rewarding, and he who deserves most
at the King's hands may have the worst fate in the House.

Again, the oath is a snare, for men are to swear they are not,
nor will be during the sitting of Parliament, under any illegal or
indirect influence of the Crown ; but who can tell how far that
extends ; who can tell his own heart ; who can nicely and hke a
casuist distinguish thereupon, and who can tell how far the service
of his Majesty in public employments may be interpreted an
indirect influence upon their behaviour in the House ? Another
argument : we have abjured the Pretender by an oath ; now
comes an oath to abjure any influence of his present Majesty over
us, though such influence can't but tend to preserving his Majesty
on the throne, but what man well affected to his Majesty can
put these two matters on an equal foot, and say, " I will be as
secure against the least indirect influence his Majesty may desire
to have over me, though for his own preservation, and not intended
to be abused, as T will be secure against the Pretender ?" On all
former occasions, where oaths were enacted, there is a serious
preamble to the Acts enjoining them, setting forth the reason for
such oaths ; read all the Acts of Queen Ehzabeth and the succeeding
reigns, and you will find it so ; but to this Bill there is no preamble
at all ; and why is there none ? Because there is nothing to be
said for it, there is no ground, no complaint ; and gentlemen
may be defied to show the least attempt either in the King, or
Ministry, or any one single Minister, to alter the Constitution.
Whereas, Sir Joseph Jekyl said yesterday, that we may have a
corrupt Parliament, because formerly there were such ; he would
remember him that those Parhaments were not to be supposed
corrupt until formal proceedings on information against particular
members made it appear they were so, and this ought to be shown
now, for a just foundation to the Bill. He could wish, since the
members are obliged to purge themselves of being under the
influence of the Crown, that they were also obhged to purge them-
selves of any foreign influence, and that there were also a test of
such as had offered their services to great men and were refused.
This was the substance of his speech, to which old Mr. Bromly
replied : that the Bill comes in at a proper time, and is in itself
good and necessary ; that corruption of Parhaments has been a
long complaint ; that our electors require the Bill ; it is not levelled
against the Crown, but against evil Ministers, and is thought a

MRST VlSCOtJNl^ PERCIVAL. 139

1730-1.

good remedy, the more because so much opposed by Ministers in
all reigns.

Mr. Pulteney said Sir Robert Walpole kept not to his two pro-
positions first laid down, viz. that there is no ground for this Bill,
or if there were, that the remedy is improper. That as to the latter,
he had given not one reason or colour of reason why improper,
but he had given strong reason why the Bill should pass, since he
who on most occasions could so excellently prove the points he
engaged in, had on this said nothing that was not exceedingly weak
and beside the purpose. He must attribute this to the poverty
of his argument, not of liis parts. Yet that he should endeavour
to say something in this affair is no wonder, since he is the very
man who gives gratuities ; bu£ though 'tis no wonder, 'tis
very odd ; odd things are no wonder of late. Sir Robert now
acts like a physician, who seeing his patient hold a remedy in his
hand that was sure to cure him of a distemper, desires him to
refrain from it, because when cured he should be deprived of his
practice. He commended the Parliament as being full of great
estated men, and men of integrity too, and he believed, however,
they had gone on with measures which himself approved not, they
did it with honest intentions, but excepting the present, he thought
all former Parliaments have been corrupt, and that without this
Bill, future ones will be so too; nay, he would take the liberty
when the Parliament is up to say the same of this. He asked if
suffering the Crown to have too great an influence in either House
of Parhament can be justified, and yet time has showed that it
has too great an influence. For instance, in the House of Lords,
the Crown makes what Lords it pleases, and for particular purposes,
as appeared in a former reign. It commands the votes of twenty-
six reverend Bishops, who owe their being and their seats to the
King. It has the nammg of sixteen Scotsh Peers, whose gratitude
always shows itself ; all the great offices are in its disposal, and
not one of the majority in that House is without a place or pension ;
he speaks it without reflection, but he can prove it. As to the
Crown's influence in our House, it has the naming of the Sheriffs
who make returns, it has the disposal of a great number of boroughs,
who seem to be under the command, nay, the property of Offices.
The taxes, which require a vast number of officers, is another
great advantage the Crown enjoys over a people reduced to poverty,
to incline them to the Sovereign's pleasure in elections. He desired
only a stop might be put to the Court's illegal and undue influence
over the House. He showed instances where Parliaments had
obliged themselves strictly to purge themselves of corruption.
He hoped the Lords for their honour (for their interest as pensioners
is not now concerned) will pass the Bill ; if not, the House may do
as they did in 1680, resolve that none of their members should
accept of a pension, and that those who did should be expelled.

As to putting our security against pensions on a level with the
security of our Prince against the Pretender, he affirmed we ought
to give' security to our country as great as to our Eang, nay, more
to the laws of the land than to any King in Christendom ; but
when he says this, he would lay down his life for the King, and is
no Jacobite ; is happy that no man can fix that imputation on
him, but grieved that one man in England, and there is but one,
should be made to think it. It may be a little inconvenient to

140 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 17-23
particular persons to make the House acquainted witli the gratuities
they receive, but the advantages arising from this Bill to the
nation are much greater. In conclusion, he hoped there would
be no division, for the honour of the Administration, that it might
appear we were governed by reason and not by pensions, and for
the sake of a great many members, who he believed would be glad
to conceal their opinions.

]Mr. Pelham said he still thought this Bill brought an imputation
on the House that it deserved not. He believed some gentlemen
were for it for fear of their future elections, but if their general
behaviour had been such as their electors approved, they would
not suffer for voting against this Bill ; on the other hand, if their
electors, or those who recommended them to be chose, should
perceive they had left their friends, and were gone over to new
friendships, such members would have reason to fear they should
not be recommended, or chosen again.

Ml'. Oglethorp took up that suggestion (which in truth was a
threat against such persons as the Government had brought into
the House), and said men who discharge their consciences faithfully
will be little solicitous of being again m Parliament, and this was
but an ill compliment to those who were recommended by the
Court, to threaten them in their next elections. He had great
hopes the Lords would pass the Bill, and if it be doubted, there is an
effectual way to induce them to it, namely by postponing the
supplies.

Sir John St. Aubin made a set speech for the Bill, but I was at
such distance that I could not hear him.

Sir Charles Wager spoke last, and said he was against all dis-
qualifying Bills, that the Act which obhged every member to
have an estate at least of three hundred pounds a year in land had
disqualified ninety-nine persons of a hundred in the kuigdom,
and that in a little time he expected to hear of some Bill enacting,
not who shall not be qualified to be elected, but who shall be
chose. That yesterday he heard it said this House is well officered ;
he did not know why gentlemen who had served their country well
should be discouraged from sitting in the House ; in all other
countries they met with regard, but here as soon as the benefit
was reaped from their services, they were looked on as the \dlest
of men.

He would have gone on, but the House \A'as tired with the debate,
and so called for the question, which went, as has been said, in favour
of the Bill without any division.

Thursday, 18 February — I went to the Woollen Committee,
where several Yorkshire and Leicestershire members attended
to oppose the taking off the duty on Irish yarn, and therefore we
who were for it got a resolution of the Committee to leave it to
Mr. Scroop, the Chairman, to consider what laws were necessary
to be amended, he being of our opinion.

Afterwards the House had a division upon a motion made by
my Lord Tyrconnel, that a special direction should be given to
Mr. Sands, who brought in the Pension Bill, to acquaint the
House of Lords that our House had a particular concern for its
passing : this was the substance of the motion. But the Court
party opposed it, not being willing the Bill should have so much
countenance. They pretended the Lords might take it ill to have

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 141

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the Bill crammed down their throats, and if they did so, and we
should still insist upon their passing it (as this motion, if carried,
would for our honour oblige us to), it might occasion a breach
between the two Houses, and the dissolving the Parliament.

The other side said the experience of last year's disappointment
made it necessary to press the Bill upon the Lords in the manner
proposed by the motion ; that it is a Bill of such consequence
and had passed so universally the House, it could not be believed
the Lords would not pass it, especially as it only regarded the
Commons House. That since the motion was made, to reject it
would cast cold water on the Bill. At last the question was put
for adjourning, and carried by the Court 146 to 131. T was with
the minority, because I would act consistently with my former
opinion, which was for the Bill's passing.

After this, I dined with the Speaker, and from thence went to
see my Lady Parker.

Friday, 19 February, 173y. — This morning I visited Sir John
Bland, Dr. Tirrwit. Captain Cornwall, Major Naisin, Mr. Duncomb,
Mr. Bagnal, and General Price.

Dined at home, and stayed the rest of the evening.

Saturday, 20 — Returned the visits of Lord Leusham, Colonel
Lannoy, Capel Moore, Colonel Flower, and Mr. Ferguson Dined
at home, and stayed the evening.

Sunday, 21. — Prayers at home, then went to Court and carried
the sword. Cousin Scot, the Prince's equerry, cousin Fortrey,
and Dr. Couraye dined with me. In the evening, visited
Lady Londonderry and Mr. Temple.

Monday, 22. — This day I visited Mr. Clerk, Lord Blundel,
Colonel Middleton, and Sir Emanuel Moore. I agreed with
Sir Emanuel, by word of mouth, to sell him Downdeady in the
west of the county of Cork, at 180Z. a year, at 20 years' purchase.
The farm is now let for 120/. a year, but 1733 the lease expires,
and I was offered 170/. a year, or, rather than fail, 180/. 'Tis
now let for 188/. to a hundred poor people, and abused.

Mr. Schutzes and their ladies dined wdth me, and I found the
Court is displeased that I voted for Mr. Sands having a particular
instruction from the House to recommend the Pension Bill to
the Lords, but I told them it was acting uniformly with my
sentiments and former appearance for the Bill.

In the evening I went to the weekly music meeting at the
Crown.

Tuesday, 23 February. — To-day I went to the Woollen Committee,
and afterwards into the House, where what passed may be seen
in my letter to Dr. Coghill, copy of which is among my papers.
We broke up at six, and cousin Fortrey came home to dinner with
me.

My Lord Limerick opened the debate by moving to address
the King, to lay before the House the Marquis Castlelar's declaration
to the Court of France, that the King of Spain, his master, looked
upon himself to be no longer bound by the Treaty of Seville.

His Lordship took notice of the uncertainty our affairs are in,
and the works carrying on by the Spaniards at Gibraltar.

Mr. Pelham said he had talked wdth Brigadier Clayton lately
come from Gibraltar, and was assured by him that the works
carrying on can no ways contribute to taking that town if again

142 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 23
besieged, for their batteries are three cannon shot point blank
from the place. That in twenty-four hours the Spaniards can
raise works of equal hurt to us. That the Treaty of Utrecht
allows the Spaniards a liberty to make those works, which was
a fault in those who made that Treaty. That this is a wrong
time to address the King for Castelar's memorial, and there-
fore, if the question be insisted on, Avill move for the previous
question.

Daniel Pulteney said that the Governor's letters say these works
can annoy the whole Bay of Gibraltar, and drive our fleet out.
That it was a fault that our Ministry did not when they made the
Treaty of Seville insist upon clearing up the difficulties about a
territorial jurisdiction to belong to Gibraltar. In the meantime
'tis plain that neither the Spanish nor English Ministers under-
stand that a territorial jurisdiction is excluded by the Utrecht
Treaty ; Spain has no regard for us, and therefore we should have
none for her. That the King gave us hopes in his speech of a
general pacification, but we see nothing of it, and should therefore
look to ourselves.

Sir Charles Wager said when he commanded the fleet in Gibraltar
Bay, the Spaniards, after the cessation, had no notion that any
territorial jurisdiction belonged to Gibraltar, but would ride up
to the very walls of the town till frightened away by our musket
balls. That afterwards they drew a ditch to prevent the garrison's
communication with the country, which ditch is further off and
behind the batteries they raised when they besieged the town.
If they build a fort at the head of this ditch or line, it will indeed
annoy the Bay, but still two -thirds of the Bay will be open, and
our ships safe when lying near the new mole, as was experienced
during the siege, when their batteries were nearer. As to the new
complaint that the Spaniards continue to take our merchant
ships in America, those Spaniards are not commissioned by the
Court of Spain, but actual pirates, against whom our men-of-war
are ordered to act so vigorously that we shall soon hear no more
of that story.

Mr. Gibbons said he was for the address, because moved for.
The House had on many occasions addressed even to break treaties,
and therefore might surely expect a paper from the Crown. That
we are in the dark how we stand at this time with Spain, and ought
to know our condition, that we may not give money without
knowing why, and barely because the Ministry ask it. That the
town has numberless copies of Castelar's declaration, and 'twould
be strange the House of Commons alone should not have it, but
without addressing for a copy of it, the House cannot formally
be possessed of it, and therefore he must insist on the question
to address his Majesty.

Sir Thomas Aston said the Marquis's declaration had alarmed
the nation. Spain seems at liberty, and we are yet bound till we,
as Spain has done, do likewise declare we will no longer be bound
by the Seville Treaty. He observes that nobody denied but that
the works carrying on at Gibraltar are a great inconvenience to
the Bay. As to our ships being taken by pirates, Liverpool, for
which he serves, says otherwise. It is a weakness, not to say
worse, to stand by a treaty which our ally has declared he will not
be bound by.

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1730-1.

Sir William Young said it does not appear to the House that
copies of Castelar's declaration are so common as has been said.
The case is we have been unwilling to go into a war. and our
dilatoriness occasioned Castelar to make that declaration in hopes
to quicken us to fulfil our engagements, but he did not mean if
we resolved to answer them, that his master would withdraw
himself. That Castelar had explained his meaning on that head,
and therefore it would be very undecent to insist to see that
declaration, or reason at all about it, but very wrong to address
the King to dissolve the Seville Treaty, which he saw was the
gentlemen's intention if they obtained the paper they desired.
But after all, how does it appear to the House that there was ever
such declaration made ? He therefore proposed the motion should
be altered, and not run assertorily, but that the King might be
addressed to acquaint the House whether negotiations in concert
with Spain are still subsisting. Though when that question shall
be put he will be against it, because any address on this subject
is at present improper and can arise only from curiosity to know
things we ought not to know, for it is the King's sole prerogative
to make peace and war, and one part of the legislature ought not
to interfere with another part. Besides, this may tend to interrupt
and suspend the supplies. He concluded with a motion to address
the King to know whether the negotiations and conferences
depending between the contracting Powers of the Treaty of Seville
for executing the said treaty be determined, or still subsisting
and under consideration.

Mr. Bowes said there was more than curiosity in the first motion,
it was made that the House might know whether the people shall
be loaded with taxes upon an uncertainty.

Sir Thomas Sanderson said we are where we were five years ago.
It may be doubted whether France and Spain do not conspire
to prevent us from entering into such measures as are salutary,
whether those powers do not aim to drive us into a war in Flanders,
where France especially will be a gainer, but can be no gainer by
an Italian war.

Dr. Sayer allowed there is more than curiosity in gentlemen
who are for seeing the declaration, but he will not say what he
thinks of their intentions. 'Tis imprudent to address, and all
that is fit for us to know is whether negotiations are still carried
on. Can any man think to disclose the secrets between Ministers
will ease our taxes ? On the contrary, it may naturally create
jealousies, spoil the scheme of affairs and throw us into a war, and
then taxes must be increased.

Sir Edmond Bacon : Strange to move for Castelar's declaration,
if we already know the purport of it. He saw no good come from
it, our taxes no reason, for seeing the declaration would not
help us in that. As to the question, where was the incon-
veniency of asking for it, he desired to know where was the
conveniency.

Captain Vernon replied, the conveniency was manifest, it would
possibly bring us to get rid of a Treaty which dishonours us by
tying down our hands that we cannot exert ourselves in a hostile
manner to protect our merchants. It would open our eyes no
longer to be dictated by France, nor to approve of measures which
by approving we in effect betray the King.

144 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 23

General Ross said he must oppose an address grounded only
on bare report. That this affair should be left to the King, whose
desire for his subjects' welfare is conspicuous, and whose punctilio
of honour is so great that if he doubted the sincerity of the King of
Spain to the alliance, he would have applied to the House. He
would have nothing interrupt the good conclusion of our affairs
abroad.

Sir William Windham said the amendment proposed by
Sir William Young was trifling, for Ave all know negotiations are
still carrymg on, and no need therefore to ask the King that
question, but he objected against the Treaty of SeAalle itself, and
therefore he was for the question, as it first was proposed, that
the House might enter into a debate of the goodness of the Treaty.
It was no indecency to apply to the Crown for riiy paper whatever,
but our duty.

Mr. Walpole said that if treaties are suspected to be against
the interest of the nation, the House has often interfered, but
when the House did not conceive such suspicion they never inter-
fered. The House has hitherto approved the Treaty, so that the
question is now whether the Treaty we have already judged right,
be right, a question of a very odd nature, and at this rate 'tis
impossible for the Crown to carry on any affairs. As to the
particular question, he will suppose Castelar did give the declaration
that has been mentioned. What then ? He was only IVIinister
at the Court of France, not to the Allies in general, and therefore
the King of England cannot in a regular and proper manner know
of it. We have a Minister in Spain to whom the like declaration
was never made by that Court. We should not alarm ourselves
with or lay any stress on that declaration, for notwithstanding the
making of it, France has proceeded to negotiate, and the King of
Spain has siace the Duke of Parma's death desired us to consider
what may be done towards effecting the Treaty of Seville. All which
shows that the Court of Spain either knew nothing of their Minister's
making that declaration, or that he is not avowed in it. The
present motion for addressing his Majesty would be of ill influence
if carried; it would have an ill influence on affairs abroad.,
and the Court of Vienna would believe we were all in confusion
here, and ready to declare ourselves disengaged from the
Seville Treaty. Thej^ therefore who have hitherto approved
the public measures vnl\ be against addressing. It appears the
Dutch had no alarm at the declaration, nor think the King of
Spain intends to decline the alHance, since they are now busy in
raising money to support the ten thousand additional forces raised
last year.

As to our merchants' complaint of captures, the Treaty of Seville
was signed in November, 1729, from which time our trade in
general has improved. If the merchants had appUed in a proper
manner to the Government, they would have had letters of reprisal
granted, but to come first to Parliament was new and strange.
The guard de costa ships, which have taken ours, are not avowed
in Spain. They have no commission from the Government of
Spain, but are fitted out by the petty governors in the West Indies
for their own lucre, so that they are really no more than pirates,
and orders are sent to treat them as such. As to Gibraltar, when
the Treaty of Utrecht was made, Louis the Fourteenth absolutely

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 146

1730-1.

refused the town should be allowed any territorial jurisdiction,
and in lieu thereof gave ^Minorca. So that 'tis the fault of the
Ministry who made that Treaty that they did not insist on a terri-
torial jurisdiction, not of the present :Mmistry, who could only
confirm the Treat 5^ of Utrecht.

Mr. Sands said gentlemen might have taken things on trust
and so have approved measures for five years past, and j^et at
last grow tired and disapprove them now. The addressing for
the declaration cannot interrupt the negotiations, if any still
subsist. He is afraid the peace is not so near as Spain is near
concluding a separate treaty with the Emperor. We have been
kept out of a war that would have been beneficial to us, and under
a fallacious peace feel the bad effects of a severe war. He thought
the declaration made by Castelar amounted to a breach of the
Treaty. The merchants had apphed for letters of reprisal, and
were refused.

Sir Philip York, Attorney General : That the argument is reduced
to a narrow compass, viz., whether to call for a particular paper.
Agrees the House has a right, but 'tis not proper now to do it,
and we should regulate our right by the benefit or hurt that may
arise from using it. They who think negotiations are carrying on,
will vote for neither question. The Duke of Parma's death is a
strong reason why we should believe that Spain cannot desire
the alUance should be dissolved, besides Castelar having treated
since his declaration, has thereby disavowed himself.

Mr. Windham : The declaration cannot be recalled but by
Castelar's making as strong a declaration that the Treaty of Seville
is not dissolved. He believes no gentleman intends to make an
ill use of the paper called for.

Colonel Bladen observed the strong desires of gentlemen to
save the nation's money, and yet to have a war with Spain, which
would be infinitely more expensive than the peaceable way we are
in, especially as it might draw on a general war. They who desire
this paper may as well ask for all the papers that are, which surely
nobody would think advisable or proper. Things are at a crisis.
The Administration are surely judges if negotiations are at a stand,
but they tell us thej^ go on. If it be true that as strong a power
must break up an alliance as made it, then this declaration of
Castelar cannot be interpreted as a breach of the alUance, because
the contracting powers have not accepted it as such nor does it
appear the King of Spain intended it so.

The question as amended being called for, Mr. Will. Pulteney
said he wondered it should be called for when none were now for
it. He thought it improper, because we have given millions on
supposition that negotiations are actually carrying on. As to
calling for this paper, everybody acknowledges the House has a
right to do it ; the question is only whether it is proper at this
particular time. He has heard reasons why it is proper, but we
have anticipated the debate by drawing inferences from that
declaration before the House is possessed of the copy of it ; whether
the Treaty of Se\'ille is dissolved by that declaration is a subsequent
consideration. Both Windham and Bladen were mistaken, for
certainly if Spain declares the Treaty dissolved the other contracting
powers may do as they think fit. All men without doors know the
declaration was made, and 'tis a shame the House of Commons

Wt. 24408. E 10

146 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 23
only should be kept ignorant of it. He thought that Castelar,
being a Minister invested with full powers, when he made that
declaration to the Court of France, must be supposed to make
it to all the Allies at the same time As to the punctilio or
ceremony of putting the French King's name before our King's,
and taking advantage from thence to say that our King could
not receive that declaration on that account, he thought we ought
not to lose the advantage of breaking with Spain and putting an
end to a destructive scheme for a matter of ceremony, but he
looked on this as a mean excuse for continuing the alliance, not-
withstanding one of the contracting Powers declared they would
no longer be bound by it, and it put him in mind of a man to whom
the lie was given. His friends, seeing him backward to resent
affronts, reproached him with want of courage, to which he replied,
** The lie indeed Avas given me, but I would not take it." Whereas
it was said that no notice had been given of this declaration to our
Minister, he thought it had been improper to give it. As to
Castelar's den5dng he intended by that declaration to dissolve
the alliance, it was Uke a juggler's tricks : "here it is, hie, pass, it
is gone, and here you have it again." What the gentlemen desire
is only to know a fact, not all papers, such as secret articles for
effectuating the Treaty of Seville, for that might be improper.
It may, hereafter, be necessary to enquire how Castelar came to
make that declaration, what private negotiations are carrying
on at this time unknown to our Court. He concluded it
unparliamentary to leave words out of a question first proposed
and to add others only to make it worse, and fling it out. He
was for the question as it first was proposed.

Sir Robert Walpole said he had frequently seen amendments
made to questions in order afterwards to get rid of them. He
would not deny Castelar had made the declaration spoken of, but
it was a mistake to say it was made to all the Allies, it was only
to the Court of France, and as the French King's name was first
mentioned, our Minister could not possibly receive it, and con>
sequently our Court knoAvs nothing of it in a regular way ; this is
the constant rule among Princes. Besides, Castelar could not
intend that declaration as made to us, because we were then
negotiating to his master's satisfaction. He desired notice might
be taken of the time of delivering that declaration, for though his
master had given him orders two months before he left Spain to
make it, yet he kept it back at his arrival in France, and it was
made but a few days before the meeting of Parliament, purposely
to sow divisions, nor had he made it but upon assurances sent him
out of England that our Court had made a separate peace with that
of Vienna, than which nothing was falser, for there was nothing
negotiated with the Emperor but with a comprehension of Spain's
interest and to effectuate the admission of Don Carlos into Italy,
according to the plan of the Seville Treaty. When our Minister
at Paris asked Castelar about that declaration, and why he made
it, Castelar declared to him he only made it for the honour of his
master, being informed of our separate treaty with Vienna, but
when our Minister replied there was no separate treaty with Vienna,
the Marquis replied, if so, my master will not break the Treaty,
and to prove it, has from that time continued negotiating in concert
with us. We shall soon see the Court of Spain will not authenticate
that declaration of their hasty Minister,

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 147

1730-1.

When the Duke of Parma died, the King of Spain desired the
Allies to consult upon that incident what was further proper to be
done to secure Don Carlos 's expedition into Italy, which is a further
proof that the Court of Spain meant nothing by Castelar's declara-
tion, nor indeed knew anything of his then making it, because
by comparing dates, the declaration was made so near the time that
the King of Spain desired the Allies to consult upon the Duke of
Parma's death, that Castelar's information that he had made
such declaration could not arrive time enough to the Court of
Spain to make them acquainted with it before the King of Spain
expressed his desires as above mentioned. He thinks the question
only tends to confusion, and believes that nobody can imagine
Spain has made a separate treaty with Vienna. As to the Treaty
of Seville, they who advised it did it like Englishmen, it was
intended thereby to renew amity with that country whose trade
is most beneficial to us, but let treaties be ever so wisely consulted
and made, unavoidable accidents of time, persons, and the like
may arise to retard the execution. A little time will show what
we are to expect, but he verily believes we shall have all we desire,
and then the money we have raised will be well bestowed, having
saved us infinitely more [than] if we had run ourselves into a war.
He concluded to amend the first question, but should be against
both.

Daniel Pulteney said he had seen a copy of the declaration,
wherein neither the Kings of France nor of England are mentioned,
and that Castelar says he had direct express orders to make that
declaration, whereas Sir Robert Walpole had mentioned those orders
being given two months before his setting out from Spain.

Sir Robert Walpole warmly replied, and averred Castelar had
those orders before he left Spain, and therefore Mr. Pulteney
argued from a false copy.

Daniel Pulteney replied if his copy was false, he desired a true
one.

Then the question as amended was called for.

Gilfrid Lawson, an old member, then got up and opposed the
amended question, as wholly unparhamentary to alter any question
with intention declared to spoil it and throw it out. He said
questions were to be amended to make them better, and to pass them,
but to alter them only to spoil them was a Parliamentary artifice
of late date to serve the turn of parties. He remembered when
the House would not suffer such things, even when the design of
altering a question to throw it out was concealed ; when he had
said this, he declared he was also against putting even the first
question unamended, because it was also a rule of Parliament not
to put a question as first proposed after, on debate, such question
had an amendment proposed.

Sir William Young said that as he had moved the amendment,
he thought himself obUged to vindicate himself since that gentleman
had called it a parUamentary craft. He acknowledged he meant
it so, but parties had made it necessary, for craft has been so
much used by great craftsmen (alluding to Will. Pulteney, who
is allowed to have a hand in that anti-Ministerial paper called
The Craftsman), that it became necessary to encounter them with
their own weapons. Besides, he was willing for the honour of the
House to mend the first question, that an unreasonable request

148 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 23-27
to the King might not appear in the votes, but since his amend-
ment was not agreeable to the House, he was willing to withdraw
it, and let the question unamended be put.

Wortly Mount ague said he was against the amendment, but
for the first question he would not trouble the House with his
reasons, so much having been already said, but he wholly disliked
turning serious things into ridicule. The Speaker thereupon said
that he hoped for the honour of the House that way of debating
would be left off, and also for the same reason the amendment
might be withdrawn, and then Sir William Young moving that
the words '* said to be " might be added to the first question
between the word declaration and the word made by the
Marquis Castelar (which the House consented to), the question so
amended was put and rejected by us. Noes, who stayed in, 243 ;
Yeas, who went out, 121.

Wednesday, 24. — Went at nine o'clock to Lord Limerick's
house, where met Lord Midleton, Lord Grandison, Ned Southwell,
Mr. Flower, Mr. Mackartney, Mr. Hambleton, and Mr. Bindon.

Our business was to read over an excellent paper of JMr. Bindon's
writing in favour of Irish yams being brought over duty free, and
after some alterations we agreed that it should be printed as
composed by the Blackwell Hall merchants, and by them given
about to the members, to be ready against the report of the Manu-
facture Committee. We also read over Mr. Prior's paper, called
The Causes of the Decay, etc. which we thought contained many
things that might rather disserve than help Ireland, and therefore
determined not to publish it. We also agreed not to stir as yet
in the Barbados petition.

I then went to the House, where Mr. Sand's proposal to take
off the duty on candles, was rejected, and it was agreed to apply
a million of the surplus of the Sinking Fund to the paying of
South Sea annuities, and paying off Exchequer bills, as may be seen
in the votes.

After dinner I went to the Wednesday Music Club.

Thursday, February 25. — This morning Sir Emanuel Moore
came and settled with me the purchase of the farm of Downdeady,
which we agreed should amount to 3,485Z., allowance of 48Z. 135. Od.
being made him out of the purchase money for a chief rent of
21. 85. 8^., which he is to pay to the Earl of Barrimore. We agreed
Mr. Annesley should draw the writings.

I then went to the Manufacture Committee, where Mr. Danvers
moved that the law for burying in flannel should be enforced, and
extended to the Plantations, and it passed.

I then returned home to dinner, and in the evening called on
Mr. Masterman to settle the bill of Clark, the Ipswich attorney,
employed in the mandamus affair of Harmch, which was extra-
ordinary high charged. He promised to ease me of trouble and
to write to me what I ought to give him.

Afterwards I went to Mr. Annesley's chambers, and carried
him my marriage settlement to show Downdeady is not comprised
therein, and gave him at the same time a memorandum of Sir
Emanuel Moore's agreement with me. (Afterwards the purchase
went off.) Mr. Annesley took that opportunity to tell me he
wished my son married, and wished he had the daughter of
Lord Grantham, a lady extraordinary well educated, prudent,

FIRST VISCOTJNT PEROIVAL. 149

1730-1.

well allied, and who would have ten thousand pounds down,
besides perhaps as much more hereafter. I replied my Lord
was a very good man, and my particular friend, and I had
dined once with the lady at Lord Grantham's, who I liked
very well : that I had thoughts of sending my son to travel,
but as his happy settlement was the nearest thing to me, I should
not refuse a fit proposal. I said this not to engage myself too
far before I had considered it. He bid me think he was my only
son.

Friday, 26. — To-day I went to Charlton to bring up papers,
and returned in the evening. Afterwards I went to Lady London-
derry, and we signed the two schedules belonging to the articles of
my sister Bering's house in Pall Mall.

Saturday, 27. — Counsellor Foster came to see me to talk over
the affair of the Barbados petition, and to show that Ireland is
not affected by it, but rather will be a gainer if not suffered to take
their sugars, rum, and molasses from the French Colonies (as by
law Ireland may now freely do duty free), but from Barbados,
in which case he was for these commodities being brought directly
from Barbados to Ireland, and not that Ireland should be obliged
(as now by the Navigation Act she is) to have them by the way
of England, whence it comes so dear to the Irish that they cannot
afford to buy it. He added that the French sugars are thirty
per cent, cheaper than our own, because of the cheapness of labour,
and that their land is excellent, good, and fresh broke up, whereas
the land of Barbados is quite worn out, and produces nothing without
dung, which is a great expense to the planter, and consequently
makes it that he cannot afford his sugar so cheap to the merchants
as the French planter can. Besides, the Barbados sugars are
loaded with a duty of four and a half per cent., and moreover, they
must be brought to England before the merchant can transport
them to other parts of Europe, which being loss of time and market
has occasioned that this last year the French, being under none
of these clogs, have sold fifteen thousand hogsheads of sugar at
Hamburgh, and ourselves but five thousand, whereas before we
used to sell the twenty thousand hogsheads, and France nothing.

I said the French colonies and islands took off a great quantity
of Irish beef and tallow, and that by losing that market and being
confined to Barbados for our sugars, rum, and molasses, that
island would put her own price on our provision, and lower it
to what they pleased. He replied, No, for Barbados must take
our provision, having none of her own, and as we take no returns
from the French plantations but what Barbados can furnish us
with, we shall still sell as much as before, and even more, because
all the sugars we now take from England and pay money for would
be directly sent us from Barbados, and be paid for in beef and tallow.
In a word, if England does not approve the request of Barbados,
the French colonies, which are daily increasing in numbers of
people, strength, and trade, will in a few years command the com-
merce of America, and be in a condition when they please to con-
quer our islands, which grow poorer every day, their planters
leaving there daily to settle in New England. He read to me
their printed case, which he had given to Mr. Walpole and the
Speaker, and was now going to give Sir Robert, but he refused
to let me have one as j^et, though I promised nobody should see it

150 DiAftY OF THi;

Feb. 27
but Mr. Hambleton ; however, he said I should have one very
soon, provided I would return it after I had shown it to that
gentleman. I told him I perceived he had altered the petition to
the Parliament from the first draft, and not mentioned Ireland,
which we liked, only the word elsewhere seemed to take it in. He
replied, that word was not directed against Ireland, but against
the merchants of Bristol. I said I should see Mr. Hambleton
to-day, and would tell him what passed between us ; but I had
not opportunity. His conclusion was, that our union with France
made the Ministry sacrifice the interest of our plantations to that
Crown, who have taken advantage of the times to grow upon us
in America. I afterwards went to the Manufacture Committee,
where we came to no resolution but to adjourn till Thursday next,
to give time for a petition from Yarmouth, who design to apply
for opening their port for the admittance of Irish wool and yam.
Mr. Walpole moved it, which occasioned a long debate whether
any more ports should be opened. Sir Abram Elton, of Bristol,
Sir John Wilhams and others were strong against it, though the
Commissioners of the Customs told us they saw no inconvenience
in doing it. Sir Abram said it was opening a door to run our wool
to France, and instanced that Exeter was once made a free port,
but on experience of the inconvenience shut up again.

Mr. Walpole said the reason why it was shut up was because
we were then at war with France, and it gave occasion to taking
many of our ships. We resolved to consider this matter again on
Thursday.

The Commissioners being again examined as to the feasibleness
of a registry, they said it would cost about twenty-five thousand
pounds a year to execute it in England. As to taking off the duty
on Irish yam, though the Committee were come to that resolution
already, yet I took opportunity to discourse it with several members,
and from Mr. Bindon's information showed them that there is a
weight of ten per cent, upon the importation of it here, and even
of nineteen per cent., putting the computation in another light,
all which is a premium for Ireland's running it to France, but taking
the duty off would prove so great a benefit to the exporter, that
he would choose to bring the yam fairly to England rather than
nm it any more to foreign countries. I made out my argument
by the following computation. That a pack of yam is in value
to the maker to be sold at an average of the several sorts of yam,
about 10^. That the duty on a pack with the incident charges
to that duty is twenty shillings, so that a hundred pound'
worth pays ten per cent., which at two hundred and forty pound
of yam to a pack is a penny per poundweight duty. Even under
this pressure, some yam comes over, but if the exporter can make
ten per cent, more than at present, we need not fear but Ireland
will sell to England all it can spare.

I afterwards went to Court, and then came home to dinner,
where I found my brother, who acquainted me that he had been,
as I desired him, at Doctors' Commons to talk with Mr. Boycott
about my administering to my brother Dering, before which I can
neither receive nor make payments as executor to my sister Dering,
she not having administered to her husband. Mr. Boycott told
him I must deliver an account in the general what the child's effects
are, and find two sureties for my faithful execution of the trust ;

t'IRST VISCOtTNT PERCIVAL. 151

1730-1.

and as to the guardianship of the child, if she can write, and is
seven years old, she may choose me. I replied, the child cannot
write, and is not yet seven, so then that last matter must rest till
she come to be seven.

Afterwards I went to the Opera, where, sitting by my
Lord Baltimore, who is proprietor of Maryland, and goes over
in the autumn, we discoursed of the Barbados petition, and he
said if they desired only to take off the duties paid there of four
and a half on sugars, it was reasonable ; that the islands and
plantations on the Continent are in a miserable condition, and in
a few years will set up for themselves purely from the hardships
put on them. That in New England alone, there is a militia of
fifteen thousand foot and three thousand horse, which all the
power of England will not in case of defection be able to reduce,
and then if we succeeded the planters would all retire, but they
would perhaps throw themselves under the protection of the French,
and so we should for ever lose our interest and consequently our
trade in the West Indies. That the planters of Virginia and Mary-
land have most of them mortgaged their possessions to the
merchants, who cannot get their interest, and have therefore
dispossessed many of those poor people, and now try to make
something of the land, which not answering for tobaccos, they
have turned up the land for com. That tobacco at this day is
sold in London at twopence halfpemiy a pound, and the planter
has but two pence for it, wherefore the merchant who imports it,
considering his charges of duty, freight, etc., camiot live by that
trade. That were they suffered to carry it, as likewise the sugar
islands their commodities, directly to other parts of Europe, without
calling in England first, the colonies and islands would flourish,
and not be undersold by the French, and it would be no loss to
England ; but the returns made therein should be obliged to put
into England before they went back to America, where duties
would be answered, to the great profit of England ; that the objection
thereto is that the Navigation Act would be thereby infringed,
but he said it would not, and people have gone on in a great
mistake.

At Court, the King told me he believed I was glad we had two
Holy days, for our House adjourned ourselves till Tuesday next.
I replied, I was indeed very glad. He said long days were fatiguing ;
I replied they were so, but I honied we should not have many more.
*' O, yes " said the King, " there will be always some will make
it so." I answered, " Then we must attend the closer." The
Queen asked me when I heard from my wife (she knew she was in
town, but it was a reproof for her not coming to Court since our
arrival in town). I answered she was in town. " I thought,"
said the Queen, "you had left her in Bath?" "No, Madam,"
I replied, "she came up with me, but has not been able to wait
on your Majesty." "I believe," said she, "she was mightily
afflicted for Mrs. Dering's death." " Yes," said I, " and besides
that she has had a fall downstairs, which obliged her to keep home,
and now she is so tender that she cannot dress herself in a manner
fitting to wait on your Majesty." She said she was sorry for it,
and asked, " How does the little child ; is she better ?" I
answered, " She is within these two days." " She is a girl," said
she, " of a great deal of sense." " Yes, Madam," said I, "as

162 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 27-March 4
much as ever I saw." And then I told her some passages of her,
which surprised her Majesty. She said further, " You are very
kind to her." " Yes, indeed," repUed I, "I love her as my own
child." " You are very good," replied the Queen, " she has no
friend but you ; but we must take care of her." I afterwards
desired my Lord Grantham to take care of my son and daughter,
who I designed should dance at Court upon her Majesty's birthday,
Monday next

Sunday 28 February. — Went to morning and evening prayers
at the Bang's Chapel. Visited Mr. Clerke. Dr. Couraye and
Sir Emanuel Moore dined with me. Mr. Temple sat with me
the evening.

Monday, 1 March. — The Queen's birthday was kept with great
solemnity. I went not to Court, but my son and eldest daughter
made clothes and danced at night there. I visited Colonel Lannoy,
Lord Tullamore, Robin Moore, Sir Richard Meade, Mr. Tuffnal,
Mr. Thomas Clarke, Mr. Fisher, cousin Le Grand, cousin Southwell.
Dr. Couraye dined with me. I stayed the evening at home.

Tuesday, 2 March. — ^I visited this morning Mr. Bar but, the
Prussian Consul (if I may call him so), Mi\ Le Gendre, Mr. Burk,
and then went to the House, where, after staying some time,
I went up to the House of Lords, and heard some speeches for
and against committing the Pension Bill. Dr. Sherlock, Bishop of
Bangor, spoke most strongly and eloquently against it : his speech
was premeditate and finely worded.

Afterwards I went home to dinner, where I found Mr. Clerke,
to whom my wife had sent to break to him our intention of pro-
posing my son in marriage to the Earl of Grantham's youngest
daughter, who is seventeen years old, and has a very good character
of sense, sweetness of temper, and has been most carefully educated.
Our proposal was to settle my house and furniture in Pall Mall,
valued at 400^, which we had formerly been offered, 700/. lands in
Ireland, and the lady's own fortune, which is 10,000Z. down (and
at four per cent, comes to 400Z.), upon my son in present : all this
comes to 1,5001. a year in present ; and at my death to make it
up 4,000Z. a year by adding lands to the value of 2,500Z.- a year
more.

They agreed it was best I should mention it to Counsellor Annesley,
who is my lord's lawyer and mine, and a friend to us both.

In the evening my brother Parker came.

Wednesday, 3 March. — This morning I carried my proposal to
Mr. Annesley, who said he was afraid it would not be accepted,
not but that 4,000Z. a year in reversion was sufficient, but that the
young couple would not have enough to live on in present. He
advised me to settle 1,000Z. in present in lands, which, added to the
lady's fortune, he believed would do. Hereupon I came home, and
upon consulting with my wife our circumstances, we agreed to
settle 1,000Z. in lands at present, but that my son should take a
lease of my house in town at 2001. a year, and we reserve an
apartment for ourselves.

I went not to the House, where it seems there was a motion
made for appointing a Committee to examine all the members
whether they had pensions or places in trust for them, and by
whom bestowed. This produced a strong debate, but it was at
last carried against the motion ; 206, against 147. The

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 153

1730-1.

consequences had the motion been carried would have been fatal ;
it was levelled to impeach Sir Robert Walpole, and would have
occasioned addresses to dissolve the Parliament, and all our affairs
abroad had been thrown into confusion, and perhaps the same at
home.

Thursday, 4. — To-day I went to the Manufacture Committee,
which agreed to the report in part, and adjourned to Tuesday.
The House sat till eight at night upon the Bristol Merchants'
Petition, and then broke up, and desired leave to sit again to-
morrow. I never knew it more disorderly.

Before this came on, Mi\ Heathcot made a motion for a Bill to
prevent the translation of Bishops. His character is that of a
Republican Whig. Sir Edward Courtney, of Devon, as great a
Torj^, seconded him, and Captain Vernon thirded it, adding he
hoped to see the day, nay, to sit long enough in the House, to
promote a Bill for taking their votes away out of the House of
Lords. That the Scripture says a Bishop should be the husband
of one wife, meaning he should stick to one bishopric, and this
Bill would oblige them to be chaste, and give his wife due benevolence,
that is reside in his diocese, whereas they now are universally
guilty of spiritual adultery, looking after other men's wives, that
is their bishoprics, and forsaking their lawful beds in not residing.

Mr. Heathcot raised the indignation of the House by prefacing
his motion that the Bishops clung all together to advance any
proposition that had a Court air, and were united in all measures
that were destructive to their country.

Sir William Lowther (which was the first time he spoke) said
that he might at another time perhaps come into such a Bill, but
not at present, when there was a nobler set of Bishops than had
been seen since the Reformation ; that to take away the only reward
of their merit, in writing against infidelity, and setting a bright
example, which is preferring them by translation to a better
bishopric, would be destroying all learning.

Mr. Pelham, member for Sussex, said he was astonished at the
motion, that he heard it with indignation, as he was sure the House
would receive it if insisted on, that we owe the preservation of the
Protestant religion to the Bishops in King James' reign, that the
reason why they cling together as it is said at this time, is that
they are wise men, lovers of the Constitution and faithful subjects
to their King, that they are perfectly satisfied of his Majesty's care
for securing the liberty and prosperity of his people, and resolve
to oppose all measures that tend to make him uneasy, or divide his
subjects, and injure the public. That for learning, probity, and
exemplary life, there never were a better set of bishops, and of the
number he was acquainted mth, he knew not one that did not reside
in his bishopric.

Sir William Young said to the same purpose, and added that
it w^as a shame to hear such a motion, that it tended to destroy
our Constitution ; that to rail thus at our spiritual guides, members
of another House of Parliament, was unworthy of any son of the
Church of England, but especially of any member of the House,
and that he saw those who valued themselves so much upon being
friends and patrons of the Church came out to be less so than
others who had been branded with being its enemies.

Upon this the motion was dropped.

164 blARY OF THfi

March 5-8
Friday, March 5. — Sir Emanuel Moore brought me back the
rough draft of the deed of purchase of Downdeady, and desired
he might have a lawyer on his part to consider of the purchase
deed, relinquishing Mr. Annesley, who he before said should be the
common lawyer between both. I told him I could not object to
it, but that ilr. Annesley might take it ill. I desired him to bid
his lawyer draw up a list of the papers he would want, and if I
had them, I would deliver them ; he also desired I would ask
Mr. Annesley whether as Downdeady belonged to my manor of
Liscarrol, I have not a right to shipwrecks on the coast of Down-
deady, which I said I would. He then told me he had been
promised money to be lent him on security for payment of the
purchase, but that when he came to tell the parties he must mort-
gage Irish lands to them, they would not take it, which disabled
him from paying me the money at the time promised, viz., at
the sealing the deeds ; but that he had 1,000Z. in banker's hands
in Cork, which he would remit me immediately, and had 2,500Z.
more on bonds in Ireland, which he would give me, being
responsible men. I did not like that, but replied the deeds should
go on and be engrossed, and that when he was returned to Ireland,
and had collected liis money and informed me thereof, I would
send over a counterpart for him to sign, which he agreed to ; but
I added that I should expect this affair should be finished in a
reasonable time, otherwise I should be bound down to uncertainty
for longer than I cared.

After this I went to Mr. Oglethorp, who showed me a draft
of the charter we are to obtain of the King of the lands in
South Carolina wherein to settle a colony, all which I approved;
we appointed to-morrow morning for he and I, Lord Tyrconnel
and Mr. Heathcot to wait on Lord Carteret upon this affair,
whose consent is necessary to the charter, he being a proprietor in
the Province of Carolina. I then went to the Committee sitting
on the Barbados petition, who were busy on examining into the
constitution of the Plantation Governments, their trade, etc. ;
there was nothing passed to the disadvantage of Ireland.

I took that opportunity to speak to Mr. Barnard, of the city,
and Mr. Daniel Pulteney, touching the unenumerated commodities
of the Plantations not being suffered to come freely and directly
into Ireland, but obHging them by a wrong construction of the law-
passed anno 7 and 8 William III to be understood the same
as enumerated goods, i.e.. to call first in England, which was
attended with such charge that the unenumerated goods were not
bought by Ireland, but sent for to Denmark and Norway, to the great
prejudice of Ireland, who send for one hundred thousand pounds'
worth of lumber, viz., staves, planks, balk, pitch, tar, etc. to
Denmark, for which Ireland pays in specie, whereas if they had
these directly from the Plantations, Ireland would pay for them
in goods of Ireland and save their specie, the Plantations would
sell the commodities we purchase in Denmark, and England would
feel the benefit arising from it, both in the King's duty, and in
enriching Ireland, without prejudice to England ; that all the
riches of Ireland is in the end the wealth of England, and that
as the goods come from Denmark in Danish ships, if we had no
more from Denmark, it would be English ships would bring the
same from our Plantations, to the benefit of our navigation.

JlRST VISCOUNT PERCIVaL. 165

1730-1.

Both these gentlemen acknowledged the reasonableness of
what I said, and were surprised that such a construction should
be made of the above-mentioned Act of King William. I was
informed that the Speaker was of my sentiments, and Colonel Bladen,
of the Board of Trade, told me it was the opinion of him and his
brother Commissioners.

After the Committee broke up, I returned home, having invited
Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Hill, all Commissioners of
the Customs, and my brother Parker, to dine with me.

This evening I revived my winter concert. The performers
were Mr. Needier, Mr. Mellan, Mr. Withrington, Mr. Mercer, and
Mr. Vemor on the fiddle, Mr. Dobson, Mr. Pain on the bass-viol,
Mr. Fabry and Mr. on the harpsichord.

The company were the Earl of Grantham, Earl of Shaftesbury,
Lord Howard of Effingham, Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Hill, Mr. Walker,
brother Parker, jVIr. Tripland, Mr. Greenvil, Mr. Le Grand, Mr. Clerk,
Countess of Torrington, Lady Frances Nassau, and her sister.

Lady Aime , sister Percival, cousin Le Grand and

cousin Betty Southwell, Lady Ranelagh, Lady Humphreys and
her daughter, Mrs. Donellan, Mrs. Minshull.

Saturday, 6 March. — This day I was called on by Mr. Oglethorp
to go to Lord Carteret's to discourse over the Carolina Settlement,
he being the only proprietor who has not sold his rights to the
Province. His Lordship was not at home, and we agreed to go
again Monday morning.

I afterwards visited my brother Percival, who had the gout,
and returned home, where I stayed the evening.

I made other proposals in my son's behalf, and sent them to
Mr. Annesley to communicate to Lord Grantham, if he thought
fit ; they may be seen in my letter to Mr. Annesley of this day's
date.

Sunday, 7. — Went to the King's Chapel. Dr. Couraye dined
with me, and in the evening I visited my aunt Long. Mr. Annesley
sent me a letter resenting Sir Emanuel Moore's taking the case
of drawing the purchase deed of Downdeady out of his hands
to put in another's, and so I guessed he would. He also writ that
he would forward my proposal the best he could to Lord Grantham.

Monday, 8 March. — I waited on Lord Carteret, with Mr. Oglethorp,
Hucks, La Roch, and Heathcot, members of Parliament and
trustees of the intended Carolina Colony, to acquaint his Lordship
with the progress we have made therein, and to ask his Lordship's
concurrence and favour, he being still a proprietor of that Province,
and his Lordship said he would do what the King should do,
securing his right to a seventh part of the lands and quitrent, which
the Attorney General is to take care of.

Afterwards I went to the Committee on the Barbados petition,
where a member told me the strongest objection to the intention
of taking off the Irish yam was that such quantities of Irish yam
would in consequence thereof come into England that the English
spinners would be injured. He owned, however, that it would
be better for the manufacture in general. I told him there is no
danger of that, for there are but two provinces in Ireland of the
four which can supply England, one being wholly employed in
the linen manufacture and breeding no sheep, the other breeding
no more than whose wool supplies the manufacture for whom

156 DIARY OF THE

March 8-11
consumption in Ireland {sic). That the hnen manufacture is still
spreading into the wool countries ; that there is besides an Act lately
passed in Ireland to oblige all tenants to sow com, and that a good
deal of ground remaining is not fit for sheep ; that as to lessening
the value of English yam, that could not be, for that the merchant
who imports Irish yarn will take the advantage of the duty repealed
and sell his yarn so much dearer, which comes to ten per cent,
on the value of yam in Ireland, otherwise he will not bring it to
England, but run it to France ; so that while Irish yam keeps
up its price the value of EngUsh yam will not lessen.

I spoke to Sir Robert Walpole hkewise on it, who said he was
in his private judgment for taking the duty off, but he could not
disoblige the country, for I saw everything was laid on him, which
I said was true and very hard. I also showed him Mr. Bromly,
the late Secretary's, BiU, now in the House for naturalizing all the
children of his Majesty's subjects bom of British fathers be^^ond
the seas, which I told him was so loosely worded as if designed to
naturalize the Pretender's children and those of all the English
and Irish rebels.

It struck him, and he said there ought to be a proviso to prevent
that mischief. I thereupon showed him a proviso ready drawn
by Mr. Hambleton for that purpose, which he read and approved,
and desired Mr. Hambleton to go in his name to the Attorney
General and apprize him of it.

The Speaker, being this morning taken suddenly ill of colic, the
Clerk adjourned the House.

Before dinner, Mr. Annesley came and gave me his opinion that
in my proposal for my son's marriage, I gave too much in promising
to settle 1,000/. a year in land on my son's daughters, in case my son
had no heir male arriving at the age of twenty-one.

However, I desired he would offer my proposal to my Lord if
that was all his objection, for I was growing old, and had no thoughts
of marrying again in case my wife should die ; that at worst it was
but 1,000/. lopped off of my estate.

He said he thought it was not an equal proposal for the lady's
10,000/., seeing eight thousand of it was to be settled on her children.
I answered that she had 1,000/. year jointure, and all that might
afterwards fall to her.

Lastly, he said the obhging my son to stand to a rent of 200/.
a 3^ear for my house and furniture, was too much expense out of
the j^oung couple's fortune. I answered I was sure they could no
where lodge so cheap, and that the convenience of bearing half
the expense of housekeeping when my wife and I should be in
town was a vast convenience to them. So he concluded that
perhaps my Lord would like it.

Tuesday, 9 March. — This morning Sir Emanuel Moore came and
delivered me back Mr. Annesley's draft of my writing for the sale
of Downdeady. I told him how Mr. Annesley resented his employ-
ing another lawyer after he had first pitched on him, to which he
made lame excuses. I afterwards went to the Manufacture
Committee, where Jo. Gumey, the Quaker, of Norwich, spoke
excellently well in favour of taking off the duty on Irish yarn,
and in favour of opening several more ports in England for
admitting it. We adjourned to Friday next, the Speaker being so
ill as not to be able to come to the House till Thursday.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 157

1730-1.

Mr. Ogle thorp and I, with others, spoke to Sir Robert Walpole
that it would be necessary to have an Act of Parliament to enable
the Crowai to grant us a necessary charter for the charitable colony
we design to plant in South Carolina, and we desired the Crown
would favour it ; he said he was not against it. and that I would
give him at his house to-morrow heads of a Bill for that
purpose.

After dinner I went to see my brother Percival, laid up with
the gout.

Wednesday, 10 March. — This morning I waited on Sir Robert
Walpole with the heads of our Bill, to which Sir Robert made so
many objections that I found it fruitless to expect we should have
leave to bring in a Bill at all, though I urged several good reasons,
but I found he was not willing the Colonies should depend on
Parliament for their settlement, but merely on the Crown. He
objected that the King's prerogative would be subjected thereby
to Parliament, that there was no need of a naturalization of those
who went thither, that our apprehensions of endangering our
seats in Parliament by accepting the trust was an idle fear.

I returned to Mr. Oglethorp with this account. Afterwards I
went to Court, and after dinner went to see my brother Percival.

I met Archdeacon Bentson at Court, who told me that he had
heard about a month ago from Dean Berkley, that by the Bishop of
London's account, he was preparing to come home. That an
offer had had been made the Dean that he should have the interest
of the twenty thousand pounds promised by the Government
for establishing his college, but that it should not be secured to
him longer than while the Government pleased to paj^ it, which was
offering nothing, because no associates would go over to Bermudas
on so precarious an account.

That Dr. Downs, Bishop of Down, had writ an impertinent letter
to the Dean requiring him to come home, and calling his scheme
idle and simple. The Archdeacon likewise took notice of the
project thought of by the Trustees of the intended settlement in
Carolina, that Dean Berkley should plant his college there and
give half the twenty thousand pounds to us if we could procure
the whole, but he thought there would be difficulty in it, and that
it would not answer the Dean's end if obtained : to which I replied,
that was indeed doubtful ; however, he must himself be here to
consult with upon it.

Thursday, 11 March 173^. — To-day I visited cousin Ned
Southwell to get him to speak to my late Lord Thanet's
trustees of his charitable legacy, that they would give ten
thousand pounds thereof to the Carolina settlement. He told
me he had spoke already for a thousand pounds to be given
to the Incurables of Bedlam Hospital, and as much to the
Westminster Infirmary, and as neither of those requests were
yet answered, he could not decently speak for a third ; but
he advised me to speak to Will. Wogan, who is very great with
Mr. Cook, brother to the late Vice -Chamberlain Cook, who is
one of the trustees of my Lord's charity, and that I must myself
find another to speak to IVIr. Lamb, who is the other.

That Lord was a noble instance of a charitable temper : he gave
away sixty thousand pounds in his life, and at his death left forty
thousand more to these trustees to distribute away in different

158 DIARY OF THE

March 11-12
charities, not exceeding each one thousand pounds, that his name
even might not be known or respected.

I also visited cousin Le Grand, and from thence went to the
Barbados Committee. After which the House took into con-
sideration the Mutiny Bill, to which Mr. Sands offered a clause
to this purpose, viz., that common soldiers might after certain
years demand their discharge. The reasons given for it were,
that the present keeping soldiers for their lives in the service is
making slaves of them. The reasons against were, that soldiers
may when they list make their bargain beforehand to enlist but
for a certain time, being all volunteers, and not pressed men, which
agreements the officers are very just to keep with them. That
such a general liberty might at critical junctures dissolve the army ;
that especially the garrisons of Gibraltar, Port Mahon, and the
Plantations would at once break up ; that our army is at present
for their number the best in the world, because veteran troops, or
may be allowed as such, seeing they have been obliged to keep
to their colours. That the army in Ireland, which serves for
a smaller pay than that in England, would be sure to quit,
in order to take into the English army ; that the men would
demand their discharge merely for the sake of their clothes ;
that when they had got their discharge they would only turn
pickpockets and robbers on the highway, being disused from
labour ; that it would put a military spirit into the commonality
that would take them from a laborious life and make them
factious and capable of ill impressions against the Government.

The speakers against the clause were Sir Thomas Robinson, who
spoke well, though it was the first speech he made. Sir William
Strickland, General Wade, Captain Sinclair, Brigadier Sutton, and
Mr. Henry Pelham.

Those who spoke for the clause were Mr. Sands, Mr. Oglethorp,
Mr. William Pulteney, and Captain Vernon.

We sat till past six o'clock, and then divided : for the clause,
121 ; against, 219.*

Friday, 12 March 173^. — This morning Mr. Curtis came to me
about succeeding his father in his living of Dovercourt and Harwich,
which his father has resigned to him. I carried him to my Lord
Chancellor, who being busy hearing causes, I went to the House of
Lords, and spoke to his Lordship there, but had not time to explain
my request in Mr. Curtis' favour.

I went to the Manufacture Committee, where the Bristol people
endeavoured to show cause why more ports should not be opened,
but their reasons did riot seem to prevail with the members. We
adjourned to Monday, and then went to the House. After dinner
Mr. Curtis came to me by appointment, and we went again to my
Lord Chancellor, who was at home. I told him the favour we had
to ask, the living being in his Lordship's gift as belonging to the
Crown, and showed him the petition of the town of Harwich to
his Lordship.

He said he very seldom admitted of such kind of resignations,
because he had been bit once or twice. I told him there was no
bite in this, for the father was a hale, lusty man, and then I showed
him the Bishop of London's letter promising to accept the resigna-

♦ This ends the first volume of the manuscript diary.

FIRST YISCOTJNT PERCIVAL. 159

1730-1.

tion, and induct the son into the living, if the Lord Chancellor
would confer it on him. My Lord kept the petition, and said he
would consider of it.

I then went to see my brother Percival, and after my return,
Mr. Horace Walpole came at eight o'clock and stayed till ten, to
discourse of taking off the duty on Irish yarn, provided there were
a Registry Act all round the coast of Ireland, as there is in England
for Kent and Sussex. I told him I should not be against it,
provided the Parliament of Ireland did it for that kingdom.
He said that could not be, for the redress intended the English
manufacture must be by an English Act, and unless there were
a registry in Ireland of all their wool, the people there would run
their wool to France, notwithstanding the encouragement here
given to bring it in by taking off the duty. I replied I thought
the encouragement given would be sufficient inducement to bring
it fairly hither, or if it did not, it would be run so dear to France
that their manufacture would become as dear as our own, and
consequently being worse, we should undersell them. Further,
that to register the wool in Ireland would require duties to be
raised there, which if laid on by an English Parliament would be
ill digested there, for it would be taxing of Ireland from England,
a thing never yet known, and would be of fatal consequence, for
hereafter such an example being given, England would go on to
tax them and appropriate their duties too, so that we should
be slaves and lose our Parliament and our freedom, a matter that
cannot be agreeable to the Crown, whose maxim hitherto has been
to keep that kingdom independent of England, as leaving more
freedom to the King than when subject to an English House of
Commons.

He said he could not see this would be a taxing of Ireland, for
the duty to be raised would remain in Ireland, and was for the
service of that kingdom ; but be that as it will, he found the
Parliament here would not take off the duty without it.

I replied, a thought had just risen in my head that possibly
might content Ireland and England both, namely, to make this
Act take effect so late as that the Parliament of Ireland, which sits in
October, may have time to pass a law of their own to the same effect
and thereby save the appearance of being subjected by the English
Act. I would have chosen that Ireland might be depended on to
answer his desires in this matter, and that the Act might be so
worded as that the thing should be left to the choice of the Irish
Parliament to do or not ; but he replied the House of Commons
would not come into such words as insinuated their not having a
power to bind Ireland by English laws. I told him in truth the
binding Ireland by English laws is but of late date, and since the
Revolution, but this was a perfect new thing, the binding it in
money matters ; that it is so offensive a matter to that kingdom,
that I would not take upon me to consent to it for the world, but
I would talk this matter with some gentlemen of Ireland, and
then if he pleased we would wait on him and let him know our
opinion.

Afterwards we discoursed much about the hardship the
Plantations and Ireland lie under with respect to the unenumerated
commodities of the former not being suffered to come into Ireland
directly, and without calling first in England, which renders them

160 DIARY OF THE

March 12-16
so dear that Ireland cannot purchase them, but is obUged to send
for them (lumber in particular) to the Baltic, which is no benefit
but a loss to England, by reason the Danes possess both the freight
and navigation, and Ireland is impoverished by draining their
specie away to purchase lumber alone to the value of one hundred
thousand pounds. That rum, likewise, has no vent in Ireland
on the same account, whereas if it came free, we should pay the
Plantations for that and lumber in provision uistead of ready
money, to the benefit of the Colonies and of Ireland, and no hurt,
but great advantage to the Crown, which as things stand receives
no duty for them because none is carried to Ireland, whereas a
duty in Ireland would raise the revenue considerably, and put a
stop to the running of brandy into that country.

He granted what I said, and added that matter might one day
fall under consideration.

Saturday, 13 March 173^. — To-day I went to see Mr. Gosset's
representation of the Court of France in wax, as big as the life
and clothed in the habits the Court of France wore last year, being
given to him for that purpose. Nothing can be finer done, nor
more Jike, though only the Duke of Bourbon's face was taken off
in plaister of paris. He was so content that he gave Mr. Gosset a
complete suit and eighty louis d'ors.

Dr. Moore and Sir Em. Moore dined with me.

Sunday, 14. — Went to chapel, 8 o'clock prayers, and com-
municated ; afterwards to the Prince's Court, who spoke much
to me of his affection to my brother Dering's family, and asked
after my niece Dering and my son, who he heard was a youth of
extraordinary sense and character. I made suitable replies.
Then I went to the King's Court, and carried the sword.

While the sermon was preaching, the Prince talked a great
deal to me of Oxford, Westminster School, disaffection, etc., and
told me he hoped time would reconcile all to be friends to the
Government ; that as for the old people it was not to be expected
they should be gained, but the youth will, especially now that
Westminster School is gained by means of having gained
Dr. Friend ; that he looked on gaining one school to be worth
gaining fifty families, because the impressions we take when young
alwaj^s remain, and that the true maxim of gaining is to be just
to all men, but to bestow favour only on those who are well
affectioned. He spoke slightingly of Bishop Smalbrook, who
preached ; I told him he was my tutor at Oxford, and that he
was very short-sighted, which made him read so slow ; at which
he asked my pardon for what he had said. I added he was a very
learned man, and zealous in the Government's interest.

Dr. Couraye dined with me, and I remained the evening at
home.

Monday, 15 March, 173^. — This morning Sir Emanuel Moore came
to me to tell me he could not go on with the purchase of Downdeady
if I insisted on his doing suit and service to my manor of Liscarrol,
to which Downdeady belongs, because it lies so distant from the
manor that no tenant can oblige himself to come so far to pay
that duty, and consequently he should not be able to let the farm
after he had bought it. I thought his reason very good, especially
since no former tenant had by his lease been obliged to it, and
therefore gave him reason to expect I would acquiesce in it.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 161

1730-1.

Afterwards I went to the Manufacture Committee where, after
a debate about extending the Sussex and Kent Registry to Ireland,
as also about opening more ports in England, which it was agreed
should not be mentioned in the report, but left to the House to
judge of, we agreed to close the Committee, and the report mil be
drawn up Thursday next. I then went to the House, where petitions
were presented against the Charitable Corporation and referred
to the consideration of a Committee of the whole House.

After dinner, at seven o'clock, came by appointment the
following Lords and gentlemen of Ireland, to consider what answer
to make to Mr. Walpole's proposal of registering the wool of
Ireland : — Lord Middleton, Lord Palmerston, Lord Limerick,
Mr. Flower, Mr. Hambleton, Mr. Parry, Mr. Southwell,
Mr. Macartney, Mr. Bindon, Mr. Cary, secretary to my Lord
Lieutenant, and Mr. Dodington, who came as a friend to Ireland.
We talked over the matter seriously three hours, and unanimously
agreed to oppose any Bill for ease of the woollen manufacture,
though the duty on Irish yam should be taken off, in case
Mr. Walpole's scheme, which I told them at large, for registering
the Irish wool should be insisted on ; and I was desired to tell
him as much to-morrow, and if he still persisted in it, that I should
the next day, if he gave leave, carry to him Lord Limerick, Ned
Southwell, Mr. Hambleton, and Mr. Dodington to convince him
of the impracticableness of it, and the confusion it would put the
King's affairs in at the opening of the Parliament in Ireland.

Tuesday, 16 March. — This morning I reported to Mr. Walpole
the gentlemen's sentiments who met at my house last night, and
had his direction to wait on him to-morrow at nine a clock, with
some others. He said, as he did before to me, that the House
would not take off the duty on Irish yam, unless some effectual
means were used by Bill to hinder running to France. I replied
we were not against any effectual course that should be proposed
with relation to Ireland, only we desired to be left to ourselves
to take the course. That there can be no doubt but the Irish
Parliament will do what is proper to finish what will so well be
begun in taking off the duty, but if the registry of our wool should
be put on us by an English law, it would confound the King's
affairs in Parliament in Ireland, and not be executed, for the
people would knock the officers appointed to collect the duty
in the head. I said many other things, to which he replied the
House would not trust the Irish Parliament, and that as the manu-
facture goes on to decline here, some more severe resolutions may
be come into against Ireland than what are thought so now. I
answered, sufficient for the day is the evil thereof, but we could
not sell our birthright for a mess of porridge : that if England
lay a tax on our wool, the next year they may tax our land, and
then good-bye Parliaments in Ireland. That the people of Ireland
are now poor and desperate, and it would be ill policy to discontent
two millions of subjects. That to depend on a standing army
there is to resolve to govern by a military force, and how soon
that example might be followed in England time would show.
That as to taxing the wool at fourpence a stone, when half thereof
was taken out to discharge the Lord Lieutenant's Castle license
duty, the other half would amount but to about three thousand
three hundred and thirty pounds, which is too small a sum to defray

Wt. 24408. B U

162 DIARY OF THE

March 16-18
the salaries of officers appointed to see a registry executed, seeing
the registry of Essex and Kent alone costs the Government six
thousand. He replied that sum would do. However, he heard
the wool of Ireland is two millions of stone, and if so the duty
would be five times what I said. That he should be glad to know
what we could i)ropose to satisfy the House here. I answered
that I had no doubt, but if the House took off the duty here and
made the law temporary, Ireland would take effectual means, and
such as should be satisfactor}^ ; after this, if on experience it was
found that wool was still run from Ireland, the Act might be
repealed and the duty again imposed. That whoever informed
him that Ireland produces two millions of stones of wool is under
a vast mistake, there being no more than four hundred thousand.

After this I spoke to several members about the injustice of
taxing Ireland by an English law ; that it is the essential mark
of a free people, that no taxes should be laid but by a nation's
own representatives ; and that great confusions would arise if it
were done. Some agreed with me, and others though they allowed
what I said to be very true, yet they added that it must be so
when the preservation of England is concerned in it. I answered
that were it a question whether England or Ireland should be
preserved, I allowed their argument, but this is not the present
case, for Ireland will certainly concur in effectual methods to
prevent running their wool, so that the case is no more than whether
upon a suspicion only that they will not, this extraordinary step
should be taken, that will infallibly throw Ireland into confusion,
and destroy the King's affairs there.

I afterwards went to the House, where we had a debate till
eight at night upon an amendment of the Address reported from
the Committee of Merchants' affairs. Mr. Gibbons moved the
amendment, which in the conclusion we threw out, 207 against
135.

I acquainted Mr. Annesley that my Lord Grantham had declined
my proposal, but in such civil terms as put me under great
obligations. That he had sent me word by Mr. Gierke that my
proposal was very honourable, and if his daughter had twenty, or
thirty thousand pounds fortune, he would accept it, but having
only ten thousand pounds down, the young couple would have too
little to live on, which Avas all the objection, otherwise there was no
family in England he would sooner choose to be allied to.

Wednesday, 17 March. — This morning, at nine o'clock,
Lord Palmerston, Lord Limerick, Mr. Hambleton, Mr. Dodington
and I waited on Mr. Walpole to discourse over the affair of taking
off the duty on Irish yam as it affects Ireland ; and our purpose
was to win him off from admitting of a registry of the wool of
that kingdom by an English law. In the end, he came into this,
that if the gentlemen of the House should resolve on extending
the Registry Act of Sussex and Kent to all the maritime coasts of
England, that reasons should be offered why it should not be
extended to Ireland, and that if possible, to have no registry for
one year to come. In the meantime that the duty on Irish yam
should be taken off, but not to be in force till Lady-day come
twelve -months, within which time the Parliament of Ireland
should resolve on passing an Act for registering their wool to take
place at like time that both Parliaments may go hand in hand ;

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 163

1730-1.

we said we would not undertake for a registry in that kingdom,
but believed that Parliament would do it. Hereby we preserved
Ireland's being taxed by an Enghsh law. Mr. Walpole said he
would consult Sir Robert about it, till which time he hoped we
would not mention it to the members.

I returned, and Colonel Middleton, cousin Will. Dering, and
cousin Tom Whorwood came to see me. I dined with the Duke of
Dorset, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; there were Mr. Conolly,
Lord Grandison, Mr. Macartney, Mr. Mathews, Mr. Skeffington,
Sir Richard Mead, Lord Allen, Mr. Fox.

Thursday, 18 March. — This morning I went to the Barbados
Committee, which closed, and ordered the Chairman to acquaint
the House that he was ready to make his report.

At breaking up, I took Mr. Hambleton, Mr. Daniel Pulteney,
and Mr. Walpole aside, to talk of the unenumerated goods being
allowed to come directly from the Plantations to Ireland, and
Mr. Pulteney said he thought a Bill particular for that purpose
should be brought in lest that for relieving Barbados might meet
with opposition and miscarry.

Mr. Walpole said he had no objection to it, but it was best that
Scroop, Secretary to the Treasury, should send first for the Com-
missioners of the Customs to have their opinion upon it, and I
added that the Board of Trade having likewise made a favourable
report on the Dublin merchants' petition last year, that ought
also to be demanded. I have great hopes the liberty will be
granted, for it will be more than one hundred thousand pounds a
year advantage to Ireland. I then went to the House of Lords
to know of my Lord Chancellor what was his objection to
Mr. Curtis resigning his living of Harwich and Dovercourt to his
son. He said he feared the father had some other living in view.
I told him I knew of none. He said no more than that the young
man might return to Harwich : so I fear my Lord will not allow
our request. I then returned to the House, where the Bill for
preventing suits for tithes was, to all our surprise, proposed to
be put off for a fortnight by Mr. Glanvil, the great stickler before
for the Bill. Several members were for giving it the second reading
now, as Sir WiUiam Lowther, Sir Gilbert Heathcot, Mr. Heathcot,
Mr. Plummer, etc. ; and others who were for putting it off, j^et
spoke in its favour ; but Harry Pelham, Dr. Sair, and Sir Robert
Walpole spoke against it, and in conclusion the House put it off
with professing that by it they meant it should be dropped for this
Session. Sir Robert took me aside to tell me that the King had
readily granted a pension out of the Civil List of a hundred pounds
a year to each of my brother Dering's daughters for three years,
as all those pensions run, and that he wanted a proper person
to be named who should give acquittance for the money, advising
me not to name myself or any Parliament man. I replied, I had
great obligations to his Majesty and himself for this favour, and
it was doubled by intending to do for two daughters, but he had
been under a mistake, for that there is but one daughter, and that
a hundred pounds was all we asked. I then desired Counsellor
Annesley to draw up a declaration that the person named held
the pension only in trust for my niece, and at night I sent Sir Robert
and him the name of the gentleman, Richard Aspen wall, of Spring
Garden, gentleman.

164 DIARY OF THE

March 18-23
After this I went to see my brother Percival.
I ought not to omit that Mr. Bromly's Bill for a general
naturalization of all cliildren bom abroad of English fathers gave
some surprise to the House, because it naturalized the children of
rebels, and even the Pretender's children. Mr. Gary, Secretary
to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, made a handsome speech for
introducing a proviso that the naturalization might not affect the
kingdom of Ireland, and the Attorney General seconded him,
showuig the necessity of such a proviso. He said the number of
persons attainted upon the abdication of King James in that
kingdom, placed property in Protestant hands, and might be called
a new settlement of that kingdom ; that without such proviso, the
children of such as went to France upon the Articles of Limerick,
and thereby preferred transferring their allegiance from
King William to King James, of those also whose fathers were
attainted by Act of Parliament, of those whose fathers were not
attainted but yet went away and fought against King William,
and lastly of those who have since been in actual service of States
at variance with England, all these would upon settlement of estates
before the Revolution be entitled to sue for their lands, to the great
prejudice of the Protestant interest, and of many in particular
who had purchased under the security of the Resumption Act,
which entitled the Grown to the rebels' estates, and by which
many were secured in a legal possession of their purchases. Here-
upon, Mr. Bromly said he had no objection to a proviso, and the
motion to direct the Gommittee to receive one was ordered.

Friday, 19 March. — To-day Mr. Oglethorp called on me, that we
might speak to Sir Robert Walpole for lottery tickets for the advan-
tage of the Garolina Golony. I promised to meet him at the House.
I then visited Mr. Tuffnel, Lord Grantham, and Mr. Glarke.

Afterwards I went to the House, where I spoke to Sir Robert
Walpole, who promised to set down the names of subscribers thereto
as far as two thousand tickets, but said the lottery was already so
much more than full, that there must be a striking off. However,
that he would strike us off but in proportion with others. I told
him it was a kind promise, that this was meaned by us for a
foundation to carry on our intended colony, and if we could get
two thousand tickets, it would be one thousand pounds in our
pockets for the colony ; having engaged citizens who would give
us a premium on the tickets of ten shillings each. He then told
me he had obeyed my commands, which was to desire he would
thank his Majesty for his goodness to my niece in granting her a
pension. He told me the King did it with great readiness.

Afterwards I asked Mr. Walpole if he had spoken to Sir Robert
about not extending the registry of wool to Ireland ; he said he
did, and that he was willing it should not. He asked me also if
I had spoken to Sir Robert about admitting the unenumerated
goods to come from the Plantations directly to Ireland. I answered
I had not. He said I should have done it. I asked him, in return,
if he had spoken to Scroop about it ; he replied, *' No." I said
time advanced fast, for the Barbados report would come in on
Tuesday ; he advised that Mr. Hambleton should draw a petition
to the Treasury, setting forth the advantages it would be to the
Plantations and Ireland, and to desire they would call for the
Commissioners of the Customs to make a report upon it, which

t'IRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. l65

1730-1.

I immediately told Mr. Hambleton, who said he would draw a
petition accordingly to-morrow, and desire of the Treasury the
report of the Board of Trade made in favour of the Dublin mer-
chants' petition, which they preferred last year for that liberty,
and so be armed with everything necessary against Tuesday.

Afterwards I went to Court, dined at home, and had my
concert.

This day I received letters of administration to my brother
Bering from Ireland, enclosed by Dr. Coghill, which I am to perfect
at Doctors' Commons, and to return before the last of October
next.

The company at my concert were Mr. Cornwall, and Captain
Cornwall, his brother, Mr. Tuffnell, Mr. Le Grand, Sir John Evelyn,
Mr. Hill, Colonel Middleton, Lord Leusham, Lord Shaftesbury,
Mr. Grenvil, Mr. Bagnal, and Sir Richard Mead, Madam Hattolf,
Madam Deamer and her daughter, Lady Francis Bland, Mrs. Le
Grand, Miss Le Grand, Mrs. Temple, Sister Percival, Miss Middleton,
Mrs. MinshuU, and my niece Parker.

Saturday, 20 March. — This morning I went with my wife to
South Sea House to accept her dividend on five hundred and
seventy pounds Stock. I called on Mr. Annesley, and on Mr. Hoare,
the Banker, about Dean Berkley's South Sea annuities, and looking
into Mr. Hoare's ledger I found so small a sum of dividend there-
upon that I thought it not worth my while to make use of
Dean Berkley's power to call for it, for it would not buy one hundred
pounds' Stock.

I then returned home to dinner, and in the evening went to
Mr. Aspinwal, who signed an acknowledgment that he is named
in my niece Dering's pension in trust for her only. I called also
on Ned Southwell.

Sunday, 21 March. — This morning went to the King's Chapel,
afterwards visited my brother Percival, and then to Court.
Dr. Couraye, Mr. Bar but and cousin Will. Dering dined with me.
In the evening I went again to chapel. Visited Lady Londonderry,
and then returned home.

This night, at eight o'clock, a courier brought the Peace signed
by the Emperor, Holland, Spain and England, which the Ministry
say is such as will content everyone.

Monday, 22 March, 173^. — This morning I visited Mr. Walpole,
Sir Robert Walpole's son, lately returned from France, and also
Mr. Clerke ; after which I went to the House, where the Barbados
report was made by Sir John Rushout, who moved for a Bill to
relieve the sugar colonies, which was agreed to. At four o'clock
I returned home to dinner, and at six went to Mr Heathcot's in
Soho Square, where several gentlemen of the Carolina Colony met,
and afterwards waited on the Attorney General in Lincoln's Inn,
to give him the Order of Council relating to our affairs, and to
acquaint him that Mr. Towers, one of our members, would bring
him our thoughts on the charter desired. I then returned home.

In the Committee which sat this day upon the General
Naturalization Bill, we received a proviso for securing the
Protestants of Ireland against the claims of descendants of rebels,
which puts a stop for the future to vexatious suits on that score.

Tuesday, 23.— Mr. Scroop made this day his report from the
Manufacture Committee, whereupon there was a debate occasioned

166 DIARY OF THU

March 23-29

by Mr. Walpole's explaining his mind toucliing the methods he
would have taken to prevent the Irish wools being run to France.
I writ Dr. Coghill an account of it. We ordered the report to lie
on the table, that Friday next we may debate it more fully.

At four I left the House, and returned home to dinner. After
which I went to the Temple, to deliver Mr. Annesley the name
of lands I design to pass in mortgage to my niece Catherine Dering,
for security of two thousand six hundred pounds of hers in my
hands, for which I give her five per cent interest, English money,
being more than I could get from any other had I placed that
money other where, besides that I know my title and my
pay to be good. I do this for love of my niece, who is very dear
to me.

The names of the lands are : — I. s. d.

Spittle, cont. 2 plowlds. in the Barony of

Fermery. Tenant, Christ. Waggit. Rent . . 41 0 0
Velvextown, cont. 2 plowlds. J in the same

Barony. Tenant, Christ. Crofts. Rent . . 150 4 7J
Balligiblin, with Rathdenin and Lismeulen parcels
thereof, cont. 1 plowld. and 9 greeves, in the
Barony of Duhallow. Tenant, Nic^. Wrixon.
Rent 66 0 0

257 4 7i

After this I went to see my brother Percival, and then returned
home.

Wednesday, 24. — To-day I went with my wife to Charlton,
and dined there ; returned at night, and went to the Music
Club.

Thursday, 25 March, " 1725."— This day Sir Emanuel Moore
came and desired to see the patent granting John Barry's lands
to me in 1667. I said there was no patent, but a certificate, which
I could not find ; but there was no occasion for it, since 'tis recited
in the patent for reduction of quit rent. He insisting on it as
necessary to my title, I told him his lawyer was a blockhead,
and he should send him to my lawyer. Counsellor Amiesley, who
would satisfy him in the matter. He seemed loath to do it,
pretending the expense. I 'answered, what was the expense of a
guinea in such a purchase ? I left him irresolute what he would
do ; only he proposed not to buy, but be my tenant. I reply 'd
I could not promise that, because I intended to sell the land.

Mr. -Curtis, junior, brought me a letter from his father, and a
solemn declaration that he had no other living in view, which I
promised to show my Lord Chancellor, and hoped he would consent
to the resignation and confer the living of Dovercourt and Harwich
upon him.

Colonel Negus came to see me, and let me know the flourishing
state of the Chelsea Waterworks, of which he is Governour.

I afterwards visited young Mr. Walpole, and then went to the
House, which sat till seven at night on the Charitable Corporation.
After dinner I went to the Vocal Music Club.

In the House I met Mr. Annesley, who said that the certificate
being mentioned in the patent for reducing the quit rent, it was
sufficient.

FIRST VlSCOtJNT PERCIVAL. 167

1731.

Friday, 26 March. — This morning I visited brother Percival,
cousin Whorwood, and then went to the House, where I stayed
but till three o'clock, and then came home to dinner. But first I
went to the House of Lords to renew my request to my Lord
Chancellor, that he would suffer old Mr. Curtis to resign Dovercourt
and Harwich living to his son, and showed him a declaration under
the father's hand, that on the word [of a] clergyman and faith of a
Christian, he has no promise, right, claim, title, reversion or pur-
chase of or to any other living or preferment, nor any view, chance,
or expectation of any by favour, descent, or otherwise ; his only
desire being (if he may obtain that favour) to have liis son estabUshed
in the living above mentioned, and to subsist himself on that of
Ketterbolston in the diocese of Norwich.

I told his Lordship I believed this would effectually answer
his scruple. His Lordship replied, after having read it, that he
would comply ; that it was, and would always be an uneasiness
to refuse me anything, for whom he had a great respect, being
very well acquainted with my character. I replied, he was very
kind to receive favourable impressions of me, who had not the
honour to be so well known to him as I desired, and that it was a
great honour to me that he would only consider the fair side of
my character, and I thanked him for this favour to Mr. Curtis.
He replied, everybody knew my character, and he could not be
ignorant of it. I then beckoned to the Bishop of London, who
came up and told my Lord that Mr. Curtis was a very deserving
man, and he added he would be ready to induct the son into the
living when the father by his proxy should deliver him a resignation
of his the living. I said I had it in my pocket and showed it him,
wherein the son was made his proxy ; so he desired me to write to the
son to come up. He added some things were necessary to be done
relating to form, and that I should tell them of admission, which
he said was sometimes required, at other times not. I did not under-
stand him thoroughh^ but suppose it is some fees that the Bishop
may insist on. I replied I would let Mr. Curtis know it.

Cousin Fortrey and Mr. Simpson dined with me. Afterwards
I went with my wife, son and daughter and Fortrey to Lincoln's Inn
Fields play house, to hear the Masque of Acis and Galatea
performed.

Saturday, 27 March. — This morning I visited cousin Le Grand,
and spent the rest of the day at home. I writ to Ned Dering
in Ireland about my niece's debt.

Sunday, 28. — Went to morning prayers, then to Court.

Dr. Couraye, Mr. Schulz, the Colonel's wife and daughter dined
with me.

One Bartholomew, who had been gardener to my father all his
lifetime in Ireland, and who now keeps a garden of nine acres at
Chelsea, came with his wife to see me, and brought me a present
of ripe cherries and a nosegay of roses. I gave liim half a guinea
in acknowledgment of his favour, kept him to dinner, and promised
to see him at his house. In the evening I went to chapel, and
spent the rest of the night at home.

Monday, 29 March, 1731. — This day I visited my brother Percival,
and afterwards went to the House, where I gave Sir Robert Walpole
the names of twenty persons who we of the Carolina Company
desired tickets in the intended lottery for each one hundred tickets.

168 DIARY OF THE

March 29-April 1
He took the paper, and said he would take care of it. I also desired
he would patronize a request I made the Treasury to give Rushton
the collector's place at Harwich, if he should die, to Griffith Davis,
and let Will. Philhps succeed him ; he civilly answered, if I gave
my request to Mr. Tilson, and bid him to remember him of it when
the time camC; it should be done. He told me at the same time
that Mr. Sansom, Commissary of the Packets, was dying, and that
Captain Bacon Morrice had recommended to him one " Sait,"
or some such person, but that he replied he supposed I should speak
to him upon it, and therefore would promise nothing. I thanked
him for his regard to me, and said I should indeed be glad to have
a friend there, but I had not heard of Mr. Sansom's illness. After-
wards, I gave Mr. Tilson my memorandum, which he said he would
take care of.

I then found out Lord Limerick, and Mr. Hambleton, and showed
them a letter I received this morning from Dr. Coghill, and a paper
enclosed relating to the unenumerated goods, and to the duty on
yarn intended to be taken off, wherein the gentlemen of Ireland
are made to declare against a registry, and strong reasons given
against it, and a proposal that if the duty be taken off and liberty
given to the people of Ireland to manufacture friezes and export
them free of duty to England, then the Parliament of Ireland will
take effectual methods to prevent their wool and yarn from going
to France.

My Lord Limerick told me he dined with my Lord Wilmington
two days ago, who asked him if Ireland would effectually prevent
running in case the duty on yarn were taken off, and Ireland were
suffered to manufacture and export their friezes to foreign parts.
My Lord replied he beheved they would. My Lord then said he
could not undertake, but he believed England would obhge Ireland
so far. This was a great pleasure to me and Mr. Hambleton to
hear, in as much as it was even more than the people in Ireland
asked, for they as has been said desired only that their friezes
might be suffered to come into England. We three agreed to sum-
mon all the members of Parliament of Ireland in town to meet
next Wednesday in the morning at the Thatched House, to consult
on Irish affairs, and propose to them their using their endeavours
that the Parliament there should accept the overture.

Tuesday, 30 March. — To-day my cousin Coeha Scott visited me,
after which I went to the House, which sat again till eight o'clock
upon the London petition against the Charitable Corporation.

Wednesday, 3L — To-day I went to the annual meeting of the
Chelsea Waterworks, where we balloted for choosing Mr. Scowen
of our House, Deputy Governor, and Mr. La Roche a director
in his place. These were those I pitched on, others were for other
gentlemen as they stood affected. Other matters were transacted.

Afterwards I went to the House, but returned at three to dinner,
where I found my cousin Will. Dering and cousin Coelia Scott, with
her son William, the Prince's page. I soon returned to the House,
where we sat till eight o'clock upon the Charitable Society.

Thursday, 1 April. — I went to Sir Robert Walpole about recom-
mending Griffith Davis to succeed Rushton in the collectorship of
Harwich, in case Rushton, who is very ill, should die, and that
Will. Philips should succeed Davis ; and Sir Robert told me nothing
should be done in the affair before I was made acquainted with it.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 169

1731.

I met Mr. Harrison at Sir Robert's, Postmaster General, and
asked him if Sir Robert had not spoken to him that Richard Phihps
might succeed Captain Stevens in the Packets, if Stevens should
resign. Mr. Harrison said he had, but it was usual and more
proper, that one who had served in the Packets should be preferred,
than to take in a stranger. I replied Mr. Philips knew the coast
well. He answered everybody was recommended as sufficient for
the employments asked for them. I said Philips had all his life
used the fishers, and of late years especially had used it to Holland.
I then went to the meeting of Irish gentlemen at the Thatched
House in St. James's Street to consider of the matters before the
Parliament relating to Ireland ; there met my Lord Grandison,
Lord Limerick, Mr. Macartney, Mr. Flower, Mr. Hambleton,
Mr. Gary, Mr. Hull, Mr. Evans, Mr. Bindon, Mr. Mathews,
Lord Inchi queen. I proposed to consider three things : —

1. The Bill Mr. Hambleton had with Counsellor Annesley's
assistance drawn for giving liberty to the unenumerated goods of
the Plantations to come directly to Ireland.

2. The scheme of a registry in both kingdoms to prevent the
running of wool to France.

3. Whether they thought the gentlemen of Ireland now in town,
who are members of Parliament in the Irish Parliament, would
upon taking off the duty on Irish yam here, and granting liberty
to the Irish to export their friezes, engage effectually to prevent
the rumiing of wool.

As to the first. They much approved the Bill, and desired
no time might be lost in engrossing it fair, and previously thereto
in getting some English gentleman to move for such a Bill.

To the second. They all absolutely declared against a registry.
We then asked them how they would have us of the English
Parliament behave, for if we voted against a registry in England,
we might disoblige those who are for taking off the duty on Irish
yam, and if we voted for it, our friends who are against it would
be hkewlse angry, besides that a registry in England would draw
on a registry in Ireland. They thought it best we should not
vote at all on that point.

To the third. They all replied that if friezes were allowed to
be exported from Ireland to foreign parts, or even into England
duty free, they would heartily come into the most effectual methods
for preventing wool being run to France, and doubtless so would
all the Parliament, though they could only answer for themselves.
They added that to take off the Irish duty is so much more the
advantage of the people of England than of Ireland, that they
thought we gave ourselves too much trouble in the whole course
of this affair. I answered that England threatens us with great
severities if the wool goes on to be run, and that our letters from
Ireland press that we should appear for its service all we can.
I was sorry to see so few there, considering how many we had
written to, and that the gentlemen that did meet, had not patience
to stay, and appeared negligent in so great concern. I afterwards
went to the House, where we ended the prosecution against the
Charitable Corporation, by resolving that it was the opinion of
the Committee a Bill should be brought in to remedy usurious
contracts in general. The motion may be seen in the votes.
Mr. Barnard moved first for a resolution that was very scandalous

170 DIARY OF THE

April 1-5
on the Corporation, and must have dissolved it, and though strongly
opposed insisted on it, but on the division the city party had but
ninety-one, and those who were for supporting the Corporation
were 158.

At six we broke up, and I went to dinner with Mr. Horace Walpole,
and returned home at nine.

Friday, 2 April. — This day I had letters from Harwich that
Rushton, the collector, died the 1st instant. It may be believed
I wanted not for letters on that occasion. Among others Coleman
writ me that he desired to succeed the collector.

I went to discourse Mr. Walpole touching the great affair that
came on to-day, and showed him an extract of two letters I received
from Ireland, to let him see how impracticable it is to have a
registry of the wool in Ireland, and the difficulties I was under
how to act in the House on this occasion, for if I voted against a
registry, it seems I should disobhge him and all his friends, who
were so far friends to Ireland as to take off the duty on our yam ;
and if I voted for a registry, I should disoblige the gentlemen who
are also for taking off the duty, but strongly against a registry ;
besides that, should a registry pass through but for England, it
might be expected that Ireland must enact a registry for that
kingdom, and people would think Ireland might do what England
had done, whereas the circumstances of the kingdom are very
different.

Mr. Walpole said he did expect the gentlemen of Ireland would
vote for a registry, for upon the report from the Committee to the
House, if the registry was not agreed to, the whole Bill would be
ineffectual and would drop, whereby we should lose the advantage
we proposed of having the duty on our yam taken off, and then
in a few years, as we shall continue to run our wool to France,
England will come to some severe revenge upon us, and particularly
take from us again the liberty of exporting our linens to the West
Indies. He added that although a registry is proposed here, it
is only for England, and for the sea coasts ; that Ireland will not
be mentioned in the Act, only perhaps in the House it may be
flung out, that a like registry will be expected in Ireland from the
Parliament there. I told him those who were against registry in
England would take it very ill if the gentlemen of Ireland should
vote for it, being a matter wherein Ireland is not immediately
concerned, and the more so as they have our minds in it. That
since he insisted on it we would be out of the way on that particular
question. He replied he would have us there.

When I left him, I ruminated on the dilemma we were in, and
it occurred to me that if part of us gentlemen of Ireland voted
one way, and part the other, neither those who are for a registry
nor those who are against it would have reason to take it ill of us,
for it would appear that in this particular point we did not act
in a national way, but as our several private judgments lead us.
I hurried away with this expedient to Mr. Hambleton, Lord Limerick,
Lord Montrath, Lord Palmerston, Lord Incliiqueen, and Mr. Cary,
who all approved it as the only thing we could do, and so we agreed
that Mr. Hambleton, Lord Palmerston and I should vote for a
registry, and Lord Montrath, Lord Limerick, and Lord Inchiqueen
against it, which would be the less resented by !Mr. Walpole's friends,
since these last gentlemen vote always contrary to the Ministry.

MRST VISCOUNT percivaL. 171

1731.

Mr. Gary had no occasion to show liimself, for he was to be in the
chair. Another thing we agreed was not to speak in the debate,
since we should be thought to speak partially for Ireland and
have no weight.

After the House was set, and had resolved into a Committee of
the whole House, of which Mr. Gary was chairman, several gentlemen,
as was concerted by Mr. Walpole two days before, gave their
thoughts, what might be proper to be heads of a Bill to relieve
the woollen manufacture of England. I shall not here set down
the particulars nor the debate arising thereon, because I have
mentioned them in my letter to Dr. Coghill ; 'tis sufficient here
that the debate held till eight at night, in which several members
were very liberal in declaring what severe methods they will take
with Ireland if the}^ do not, when their Parliament meets next
October, pass a Bill effectually to prevent the running their wool
and manufacture to France and to Lisbon. The questions previous
to that of taking off the duty on Irish yam passed without a division,
but this last, which took up almost all the debate, was strongly
opposed, and at length ^^ e divided upon it ; the Ayes, who were
for taking off the duty, were 117, the Noes but 61.

I returned home to my concert, where I found Sir John Evelyn,
^Ir. Hill, cousin Le Grand, Lord Effingham Howard, Lord Shaftes-
bury, Mr. Edward Walpole, Dr. Gouraye, Lady Bathurst,
Miss Evelyns, Mrs. MinshuU, Lady Londonderry, sister Percival

and Mrs. Donellan, Mrs. , and a few others. I acquainted

Sir John Evelyn and Mr. Hill with the death of Rushton, the
collector, and desired them to take care of Davis and Philips,
informing them at the same time that Sir Robert had promised
nothing should be done at the Treasury without notice given me.

Saturday, 3 April. — This day Will. Philips and John Smith, of
Harwich, came to see me, the former to look after Davis's place
which I told him I should endeavour to procure him. Pulham
came afterwards, but I told him I was engaged to Philips.
Mr. Bindon came afterwards to discourse of yesterday's work in
Parliament. He told me he had a proposal to make to the
Parliament of Ireland effectually to prevent the running of wool
out of that kingdom, and that he expected to be a member there
and could be very useful. I said I would mention him favourably
to my friends there. I then visited John Temple and went from
thence to Gourt, where the King looked cool, because I did not go
often enough to Gourt, but the Queen enquired kindly after my
niece Dering, and commended her, and desired I would bring
her one day to Gourt. I returned home to dinner, and then visited
brother Percival.

Sunday, 4 April. — I went this morning to chapel, and then to
Court, where the Prince in his usual obliging manner asked after
my wife. Sir Philip Parker, and my niece Dering. Dr. Gouraye
and cousin Fortrey dined with me. In the evening I went again
to chapel, and then visited my aunt Whorwood and Lady London-
derry.

Monday, 5 April. — I visited this day Lord Bathurst, Lord
Winchelsea, Mr. Flower, Lord Blandford, Sir Harry Ashurst,
cousin Scot, and then went to the House, where we sat till eight
o'clock upon Gibraltar. Sir Thomas Sanderson made a motion
thereto, which may be seen in the votes, but Mr. Conduit moved

172 DIARY OF THE

April 5-7
the leaving the chair, which was carried at length without a
division.

I had letters from Harwich that Rushton, the collector, was not
dead, but likely to recover.

Tuesday, 6 April. — I acquainted Sir Robert Walpole this morning
at his levee, that Rushton was not yet dead, and therefore desired
he would let my request lie dormant for a time. He replied he had
a man to recommend that I could have no objection. I rephed as
I had desired the place for Davis, it would be more serviceable
to me if he pleased to let him have it. He answered it should
be as I pleased.

I writ immediately to Sir John Evelyn and Mr. Tilson upon it,
who said they would take care of it.

I visited my brother Percival, and appointed Friday next to
call on him with Mr. Boycot, of Doctors' Commons, and Mr. Le
Grand, to have letters of administration granted me to administer
to my brother Dering. I called also on Mi\ Le Grand for the same
purpose, and then went to the House, where we sat till seven
o'clock upon the New England petition against the Barbados
Bill depending in the House.

Wednesday, 7. — Will. Philips came to me and told me he heard
the Treasury had drawn up a warrant for Davis to be collector of
Harwich, and himself to succeed to Davis.

Sir Emanuel Moore came and dehvered me back my writings
relating to Downdeady lands, telhng me that Mr. Fazakerly, his
counsel, had informed him that I could not make out a title to
Lisduff as subdenomination of those lands. I told liim Fazakerly
was ignorant of our Irish properties and settlements, and that I
wondered he would not employ an Irish counsel ; but I advised
him to send Fazakerly to Counsellor Annesley, who would set him
right. He replied he had prest Fazakerly to do it, who rephed
he was so hurried with business he could not stir out of his chamber.
I said I would endeavour to prevail on Mr. Aimesley to speak
to Fazakerly. Sir Emanuel then said he would be my tenant to
that land. I answered I could not promise that, for I intended to
sell it, and if I did not, there Avas time enough to let it. So we parted.

I then went to see Mr. Wogan, to desire he would speak to
Mr. Cook, brother to the late Vice-Chamberlain, who with IMr. Lamb,
a lawyer, was left disposer of the late Earl of Thanet's charity,
amounting to the sum of forty-thousand pounds, to be given as they
approved in forty different charities of one thousand pounds each.
I desired he would inform Mr. Cook of the King's grant of lands
in Carolina to me and others for planting a colony there, and that
we hoped he would think a thousand pounds of that charity well
disposed in helping to raise a fund for supporting the people sent.
He said he would speak.

I then went to my Lord Dorset, our Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
being his levee day, who took notice to me of the pernicious
pamphlet published yesterday, entitled, " Some Observations on
the Present State of Ireland,"* pretended to be reprinted from a
copy in Dublin, but really, as Mr. Bindon had discovered, wrote
by a person here who brought the very manuscript with him, and

* Note in margin : — ** I did not then know, nor does any more than
myself now know, that my son wrote that pamphlet."

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 173

1731

pressed the printer to print it with all imaginable haste, which
I told his Grace must be with design to prevent the good dis-
position the Parliament here is in for taking off the duty on our
yam, otherwise the author would not have been so urgent to publish
his work between the resolution of the Committee and the report
to the House.

I then recommended my cousin Ensign Scot to his protection,
who I supposed would be recommended to his Grace by my
Lord Carteret, and had been eight years without rising from the
post first given him. His Grace was pleased to answer that as a
relation of mine, a young man of character, and a Kentish man,
he should do what he could for him, as he would for any person
I recommended. I thanked him, but do not at all depend on his
promise.

After this I went to the House, expecting Mr. Cary would move
for a Bill to suffer the unenumerated commodities to come directly
from the West Indies into Ireland without touching in England,
but when I saw him, he told me Sir Robert Walpole objected to it.
I could not believe it, and went directly to Sir Robert who was
in the House to speak to him of it. Sir Robert would scarce give
me the hearing, but told me he had heard nothing of it before,
that it was a matter of great consequence, and now to surprise him
with it the very day it was to be moved for was giving him no time.
I replied it had been last year before the Council and the English
merchants heard upon it, who objected nothing to it. That all
the House were for it, that the Commissioners of the Customs,
and the Board of Trade, had both been ordered by the Treasury
to make reports upon the petition and given their opinion in its
favour, that it was a thing that benefited the Plantations and
Ireland mthout hurting England, and Ireland might expect to be
favoured where it did not interfere mth England. That we had
all along consulted Mr. Walpole, his brother, and it was only out of
respect that we did not in the multitude of his business trouble him
with it, presuming he was sufficiently acquainted with the thing
by his brother. That Ireland had set its heart upon it, and to grant
the Bill would be a means to induce the Parliament of Ireland to
come readily into measures to prevent running their wool to France.
That Ireland is at this time in a dreadful low condition, the funds
in disorder and the people almost in despair, in a word that, for the
sake of the King's affairs, as well as to enable the kingdom to pay
their taxes, he should have attention to our request.

He answered, he did not know but if this be granted we may
run manufacture to the colonies. I replied we have already a
trade there, and if this be an argument of weight it holds good
against all our trade whatever to foreign parts. He said that last
year rice was suffered to go from the Colonies to foreign parts
without touching in England, and now the unenumerated goods
are desired to be put on the same foot, that he was always against
repealing old laws, made for the benefit of trade, and breaking into
the Navigation Act.

I replied, this did not affect the Navigation Act, for these goods
were prohibited long after b}^ the 7 of King William. He said
there was no time for an Act, the Session would conclude too soon,
besides he had not considered it, I made my bow, and went away
much discontented to see that Ireland should be used so, for what

174 DIARY OF THE

April 7-9
favour is she to expect, if she may not be served where England
is not prejudiced.

I then spoke to Mr. Walpole of it, who told me he knew nothing
of it, but did not offer to speak to Sir Robert upon it, which made
me suspect he was at the bottom of this sudden and secret stab,
for I called to mind that being alone with him a week before, he
told me the very argument used by Sir Robert, that if the
unenumerated goods were suffered to come in as we desired, we
might possibly run woollen manufacture in return. He added
that he would take no notice of it in the House, but others would.

When Lord Limerick, Mr. Hambleton, Mr. Bindon, Gary, and
I talked this matter over, we were of opinion that one or other of
these reasons must have moved Sir Robert to give us this dis-
appointment : either that he resented our not applying to him
in form and acquainting him of our design to bring in this Bill ;
or that he is a secret enemy to Ireland ; or that he would oppose
a motion made by Daniel Pulteney, for it was he who in the House
first mentioned the reasonableness of taking off the prohibition ; or
that he secretly purposed to "embrangle " affairs in Ireland that the
Duke of Dorset might have no success there ; or lastly, that he
would hold out this matter as a bait to the Irish Parliament to
take effectual measures to prohibit the running their wool.

I afterwards spoke to Colonel Bladen, one of the Lords of Trade,
and expostulated with him the hardship and unreasonableness of
Sir Robert's refusal ; he said he was sorry for it, but could not
speak to him of it, though he saw the unreasonableness of it as
much as I.

Thus we see how the welfare of that poor kingdom lies in the
breath of one Minister's nostrils.

After dinner I went with my wife to see my niece Dering, and
returned.

Thursday, 8 April, 17311. — Mr. Fisher came this day to see me,
after which I went to the House, to attend the Manufacture Com-
mittee of the whole House. Mr. Conduit asked me whether he
should make his motion for opening more ports at once or twice,
namely,, for opening ports of England and Ireland together, or
the ports of Great Britain first, and afterwards the ports of Ireland.
I told him I thought it better to make two separate motions, because
many who were for opening the ports of Ireland were not for doing
the same by England's. Accordingly, he moved for opening the
ports of England, which was strongly opposed, and lasted till five
o'clock, when the question being put we lost it by so great a majority
that we did not think fit to divide. I then told Mx. Walpole that
I hoped we should proceed to move for opening the Irish ports,
which would bring back many who had voted against us, but to
my great surprise he replied it was fit to suspend that matter till
Ireland showed what it would do to prevent the running their
wool to France. I say, I was greatly surprised at this, because
it manifested to me that in opening the ports, he had only regard
to his own port of Yarmouth, and having lost that, he did not care
twopence if any ports were opened at all, though his arguments
run upon the fitness of opening ports, since the Irish yam was to
come in duty free, because the Irish nation ought to be encouraged
to bring in their yam by opening as many doors for it as possible.
I would not leave it so, but beckoned to Mr. Conduit, and asked

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 175

1731.

him whether he would not move for the Irish ports to be laid open.
He replied he was ready, but Sir Robert Walpole told him he could
stay no longer in the House this day, but desired another might
be named for it. Sir Robert, overhearing us, told me the same.
I then desired to-morrow might be the day ; Sir Robert replied
it could not be, for the Lottery Bill came on, but wished it might
be Monday ; but of a sudden Mr. Walpole got up and moved that
the Chairman would report the instructions already given, that
heads of a Bill might be brought in pursuant thereto. This was
giving up any further progress in this affair, and all we were to
expect was that the laws in being might be re-inforced and the
duty on Irish wool be taken off.

Sir William Strickland even opposed that, and desired the
further consideration might be deferred till after the holidays,
and ventured to explain his meaning that he would lose the Bill ;
he said he expected petitions against taking off the duty on Irish
yam, and Mr. Oglethorp, who seconded him, declared the people
would rise in rebeUion if the Bill passed.

However, the report is to be made Monday next, as moved
for, but I despair of the Bill's passing, for there is no time for it,
the House breaking up next Wednesday for a week, by reason of
Easter holidays, and the Ministry intending to put an end to
the Sessions by the end of this month. I told several members the
ill consequence of their proceeding in this affair, that the Irish
would run more than ever, and the Parliament there meet full of
resentment to the obstruction of the King's affairs. It seems
to me that the Ministry are resolved to hurt the Duke of Dorset, who
will go over with the worst grace that ever Lord Lieutenant did.
I met Mr. Tilson in the House, who told me the warrants for
appointing Davis and Will. PhiUps to their appointments, were
filled up in the Treasury, but not signed, because Sir Robert
Walpole had not been there this day.

I returned home to dinner, and found there my cousin Fortrey,
Mr. Fabry and his wife.

I writ Mr. Coghill an account of affairs.

Friday, 9 April. — I met Dr. Kynaston and Mr. Boycot at my
brother Percival's, he being too lame to go up to Doctors Commons,
and he and my cousin Le Grand were my sureties in six thousand
five hundred pounds, that I would justly execute my trust to
my niece Dering, whereupon I was sworn administrator to my
brother Dering, both to his Irish and English effects, and guardian
to my niece.

After this I went to Mr. Hoare, the banker, and took of him
the balance of the account between us, being llSl. Ss. od., and
begun a new account by leaving with him Irish bills to be received
to the value of 400Z.

After this, I called on Counsellor Ainiesley and left with his
clerk an account made up by me of receipts and disbursements
between me and my brother and sister Dering to the day of her
death, 24th January, 173y, in order to make him sensible that the
2,6001. which is omng to my niece, and which I intend to secure
to her by mortgage on my lands in Ireland, at five per cent., was
never part of my brother Dering's 3,000/., which he obliged himself
to secure for his wife and child, but which I never had in my
hands a penny of, but only money lent me on my personal

176 DIARY OF THE

April 9-12
account, and the balance of an account current between us two.
Mr. Annesley told me he should be glad to see it, in order to draw
the mortgage in such a manner as not to make me liable to be
questioned for that 3,000/. to which I was a trustee in the marriage
settlement.

I then returned home, where my Lord Bathurst came to see
me. I remained the evening at home, and Colonel Schutz came
to see me.

Saturday, 10 April* — This day my Lord Bathurst and young
Curtis came to see me, the latter told me his affair was over and
he settled in his father's living of Dovercourt and Harwich. After
they were gone, I visited Lord Grantham, Lord Wilmington, and
Mr. Mathews, of Thomas town, and at my return, my Lord Limerick
made me a visit, touching the unenumerated goods, in which we
find such difficulty to get a Bill this Session. My Lord explained
to me the reason why Sir Robert was so unwilling to have it moved
for now, namely, that the King had yesterday morning sent for
him, to tell him that he would have the Parliament up by 28th April.
That Sir Robert replying it was impossible, the King asked why.
Because, answered Sir Robert, of the quantity of business before
them. "I know of none," replied the King, "what is it" ? "I
cannot tell your Majesty all," replied Sir Robert, ** but I will ask our
Governor " (meaning the Speaker). Whereupon the King replied,
" Governor ! I thought you was Governor." Sir Robert, finding
the King so earnest, told his Majesty that since it was his pleasure,
he would promise the House of Commons should be up by the
time he desired ; but he could say nothing for the House of Lords.
This probably is the reason why Sir Robert is averse to moving
for any new Bill this Session, and particularly for a Bill to bring
in the unenumerated goods directly from the West Indies to
Ireland, because being a most reasonable thing in itself, and the
general sense of the Parliament and merchants without doors, if
after such a Bill were brought in it should miscarry for want of
time, he, as Minister, would be blamed for not advising the King
to wait the passing it before he broke up the Parliament.

I heard from authority at Court I may depend on, that the King
will not suffer Sir Robert to speak to him of affairs, except he send
particularly for him ; but Sir Robert is ordered to communicate
all to her Majesty, and she conveys it to the King. My
Lord Limerick told me that Mr. Daniel Pulteney was resolved to
move for the Bill touching the unenumerated goods above mentioned,
as this very morning. I told my Lord I could wish Mr. Pulteney
would not do it, for it would be to no purpose, and Sir Robert
would not forgive it. My Lord and I went to the House, and he
spoke again to Mr. Pulteney, and at last prevailed on him to defer
his motion till Monday, to give time for the Duke of Dorset to stir
in the affair, whose ease in his Government of Ireland depends
much on the having this Bill.

The House passed the Sugar Bill in the Committee, and the
report will be received on Monday, but 'tis generally believed it
will be lost in the House of Lords.

I could not but reflect on the shame we justly deserve, that a
matter of this nature should be so ill attended, a Bill passed a
Committee of the whole House that related to the welfare of all the
British dominions, and had not fifty members present.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 177

1731.

I returned, and remained at home the whole night.

Sunday, 11 April. — I went to chapel in the morning, and then
visited my brother Percival, who is still confined by the gout.
I then went to the Prince's Court, who still asked kindly after
my niece, and afterwards I went to the King's Court, where I was
desired again to carry the sword, and being near the Prince during
the service, he had a good deal of discourse with me about
Mr. Schrader, extolling him extremely, as indeed he deserves as
a man of honour and sense, and one that loved and esteemed my
family.

Dr. Couraye and Mrs. MinshuU dined with me, and in the evening
I visited my aunt Whorwood. cousin Tom Whorwood and his wife,
and brother Parker's family, who returned yesterday from Bath.

Colonel Schutz told me at Court that the Queen had spoken
to Sir Robert Walpole to put a relation of Judge Ayres into
Rushton's place at Harwich, and that Sir Robert replied I had
already recommended one. How the matter will turn out I
know not.

Monday, 12 April. — This morning my cousin Percival, the
clergyman, informed me that his sister was married to a very
worthy clergyman, who has a benefice near the town of near two
hundred pounds a year. Her fortune was one thousand pounds.
I then went to see Mr. Tufnell, and from thence to the House,
where I was with great pleasure surprised to see Mr. Cary
move for a Bill to allow the unenumerated commodities to come
directly from the Plantations to Ireland without touching at
England. It seems that the Duke of Dorset had so represented
the necessity of doing something to oblige the Parliament of Ireland,
in the unhappy situation of their affairs, that Sir Robert Walpole
was prevailed on to allow the Bill to come in, and it was so kindly
received by the House that no member gave a negative to it ;
on the contrary, Mr. Sands, Mr. Daniel Pulteney, Mr. Glanvil,
Mr. Gibbon and others spoke for it.

Another matter gave us more trouble, however we carried it
successfully, namely, the taking off the duty on Irish yam.
Mr. Cary made his report from the Committee, that they had come
to several resolutions which he read at the Bar, and being brought
up, the clerk read over again several previous resolutions we came
to for preventing running of wool from England, and wool and
woollen goods from Ireland to foreign parts, all which were agreed
to without a negative, till he came to that article of taking off the
duty on Irish yam, and then the debate arose which held us till
past five o'clock. Those who were for taking off the duty were
Sands, Captain Vernon, Daniel Pulteney, Mr. Digby, Horace
Walpole, Mr. Earl, Mr. Sloper, and Sir Robert Walpole, Mr. Gibbon
and Sir William Young.

They who opposed it were Harry Pelham, Watkins Williams,
Lord Tyrconnel, Mr. Whitworth, Sir Thomas Sanderson, Gilfrid
Lawson, Mr. Palmer, Sir William Strickland, Mr. Oglethorp and
Mr. Clayton.

At length, Mr. Pelham's motion for deferring the consideration
to this day month, which he owned was to lose the Bill, was put,
and on the division lost, the Ayes, who went out, being but sixty-
two, and the Noes, who stayed in, one hundred and twenty-seven,
after which the question for agreeing with the Committee was

Wt. 24408. » 12

178 DIARY OF THE

April 12-18
carried without dividing. Immediately Mr. Walpole got up, and
moved that a Bill might be brought in pursuant to the resolutions
agreed to, and that being consented to, and referred to a Select
Committee to prepare. Sir Robert told the House that it was fit
the duties which the King would lose by admitting the Irish yarn,
should be made good to him another way, and therefore moved
the House would immediately resolve itself into a Committee
to consider the amount of those duties. This being done the Speaker
re-assumed the chair, and Sir Charles Turner, chairman, reported
to the House that the Committee had resolved to place those
duties on the agregate fund, to which the House agreed. This
motion of Sir Robert showed he was sincere in suffering the Bill
to pass before the Session expires, and nothing could rejoice me
more than to see so speedy and happy a conclusion of two affairs
of great importance to Ireland resolved in one day, after perfectly
despairing of them the day before.

After dinner, I visited my cousin Le Grand, cousin Southwell,
and Sir Emanuel Moore, to whom I told the good success of the
day.

Tuesday, 13 April. — This morning I waited on Horace Walpole
and Sir Robert to thank them for giving way that the unenumerated
goods should be allowed to come freely into Ireland, and for speaking
so heartily for taking off the duty on Irish yam. I also spoke
that Richard Philips might have Captain Stevens' Packet, the
Captain lying now very ill and despaired of. Mr. Walpole said
he would speak to Mr. Harrison, the Post-Master, and Sir Robert
did the same. As to the unenumerated goods, Mr. Walpole told
me he was jealous that Ireland would run woollen manufacture
to the Plantations in return for the lumber that we expected would
come, for what had we else to send. I answered, our linens ;
and if the apprehension of running our manufacture were a reason
against taking off the prohibition of the unenumerated good, it is
a reason against the trade we now enjoy to the Plantations. He
replied that more branches of trade thither gave more room to run.
Mr. Scroop, Secretary of the Treasury, said the Bill intended would
not be followed by so ill consequence, for as he understands it, the
Navigation Act will still subsist, whereby the ships trading to
the West Indies are obliged to use two -thirds of English seamen.
That he believes Bristol will have the advantage of it, for Bristol
will send provisions to the Indies and bring lumber to Ireland in
return, which Ireland will pay Bristol for in linens and yam.
Sir Robert told me it was against his judgment to allow the
unenumerated goods to come this year into Ireland, because he
would have kept it as a bait to Ireland to make them more disposed
to prevent running of wool to France, whereas by parting with all
at once to Ireland, they will profit by what we do for them, and
perhaps continue still to run. I replied we were doubly obliged
to him to yield to us a point which in his judgment he was not for,
and as to our running, I believed, upon my honour, the Irish will be
sincere to prevent it, both from my correspondence there that
assure me so, as from my discourse with the gentlemen of that
country here.

I then desired him to remember my friends Davis and Philips
next Treasury day, which he said he would, and that there would
be a Board to-day. By this I found the Queen had departed from

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 179

1731.

her recommendation. I desired a further favour that he would
speak again to Mr. Harrison in favour of any recommendation of
Richard Philips to succeed in the Packets to Captain Stevens,
in case the Captain died. He said he would. I added that after
this, I hoped I should give him little trouble about Harwich, having
brought it to be a Government borough without a shilling expense
hereafter. He said that was very well, and I might see he had a
regard to do everything to obUge me. I owned it, and retired.
I then visited my brother Percival, and afterwards to the House,
where the Unenumerated Bill was read the first time.

Wednesday, 14 April. — This morning I sent to the Treasury to
know if Davis and Philips' warrants were signed yesterday, and
Mr. Tilson sent me word that Sir Robert Walpole and Mr. Dodington
had signed them, but there being three hands necessary, the warrants
waited till some other Lord of the Treasury should come. I after-
wards went to our Lord Lieutenant's, and presented my son to
him. Then I went to the House, where we divided upon a Bill
brought in by Sir Thomas Seabright to restrain heavy carriages
to the burthen of forty hundred weight, waggon included, which
Bill we threw out by a majority of seventy-nine to sixty-five.

Afterwards we read a second time several Bills, particularly the
Bill for unenumerated goods ; and the Bill for preventing running
of wool etc., was reported by Horace Walpole, and read for the
first time, and ordered a second reading to-morrow sennit.
Sir William Strickland and Mr. Pelham urged it might be on Monday
sennit, that time might be given for the spinners to petition against
it, acknowledging they meant thereby to lose the Bill by the short-
ness of the Session, but Mr. Walpole, Sir William Young, Mr. Earl,
Daniel Pulteney, and Captain Vernon pleaded for the Bill, and for
the first mentioned day, and it was carried without a division.
Mr. Clayton told me he had signed the warrants at the Treasury,
so I shall pay the fees to-morrow, and take them away.

I returned home to dinner, and then went back to the House,
where after sundry Bills were gone through and ordered further
readings after the recess, we adjourned to this day sennit.

Thursday, 15 April. — Dr. Couraye dined with me and Will.
Dering.

In the evening I visited brother Percival.

Friday, 16 April. — Went to the chapel eight o'clock, and being
Good Friday, kept Fast as usual on this solemn day. Cousin Scot,
the Ensign, came to see me. I told him I had recommended him
to the Duke of Dorset, who had promised to serve him when he
could. In the evening Mr. Hambleton came to see me, and showed
me the amendments the House of Lords intends to make to the
Naturalization Bill, which will in a great measure undo what we
proposed by our clause in favour of the Irish Protestant possessors
of lands.

Saturday, 17 April. — I went to Court, where the King and
Queen spoke to me, and the latter held a long discourse with me
about Dr. Couraye, Popery, Thuanus, medals, etc. Dr. Couraye
dined with me. Went in the evening to chapel, and walked with
the Bishop of London in the Park.

Sunday, 18 April. — Communicated at St. James's, being Easter-
day. Tom Whorwood and his wife dined with me. He told me
he was in company last night with young Philipson, Anthony Dean

180 DIARY OF THE

April 18-23
and others, and that Anthony Dean said that Mr. Carteret had
that morning signed his commission to be captain of a Packet,
and that care was taken to hurry it over before it should be known
at St. James' end of the town. The meaning was that they knew
I had recommended Richard Philips, and the thing was done
before I could apply again to Sir Robert Walpole. I visited
at brother Percival's and Sir John Bland's, but both Avere
abroad.

Monday, 19 April. — I went to Charlton and dined there.

Tuesday, 20. — I went with, my brother Parker to Sir Robert
Walpole to talk over Richard Philips affair at Harwich, touching
the Packet I asked for him, but Sir Robert was not at home. After-
wards, by appointment T\1th Serjeant Dickens, I went "vvith him
to Brompton to see my niece Dering, who he thought in danger,
having a rash that came not kindly out, and a fever on her. I
dined with General Wade at my Lady Londonderry's, and after-
wards visited my brother Percival. I writ instructions for my
son, who goes this week for Ireland, to see that country before
he goes abroad.

Wednesday, 21 April. — This day I carried my cousin Ensign Scot
to wait on the Duke of Dorset, and recommended him again to
some preferment, as it should fall. I found there several gentlemen
of Ireland, who were very much disgusted with the amendments
made to the Naturalization Bill, as apprehending it would effect
the Protestants of Ireland. They were for dropping the Bill,
but we consulted with Mr. Hambleton, who said he would draw
up a clause to prevent the mischief.

I then went to the House, where the Unenumerated Bill was
passed, and I attended Mr. Cary with it to the House of Lords.
I met my brother Parker there, and we told Sir Robert Walpole
the hasty manner in which Mr. Carteret had made Anthony Dean
captain of a Packet at Harwich, in the place of Captain Stevens,
who has resigned. He replied, ** Did Mr. Carteret sign it ? Why,
we are but just reconciled. Give me a state of your case, and I
will write to him." Accordingly, at my return home, I sent him
a letter upon it.

Dr. Couraye and Mrs. Minshull dined with me.

At night my servant Hossack told me he had been arrested by
one Baker, a linen-draper in King Street, Westminster, for a debt
of 61., which he engaged himself for in behalf of his sister
a year ago, and for which he Saturday last gave his note. The
baihffs would not let him go, till I peremptorily demanded him as
my menial and domestic servant, and threatened to complain to-
morrow to the House of a breach of privilege. Baker also came
afterwards and asked my pardon.

The Prince and Princess went this day to dine and pass the
day at Charlton.

Thursday, 22 April. — This day I visited Mr. John Temple, who
gave me for my rheumatic pains a bottle of right old verjuice, and
advised me to take a glass of it with a toast in it every morning
fasting, and going to bed, and to rub my joints with it after it is
well warmed, to continue this three weeks. He said he knew a
woman who for seven years had the rheumatism that she could not
work, was perfectly cured thereby, and that his gardener had the
same success with it.

tlRST ViSCOtTNT PERCIVAL. 181

1731.

I afterwards went to the House, where Sir Robert Walpole
told me he had writ to Mr. Carteret and Mr. Harrison, who this
morning came to him, and that he was not able to get them to change
Anthony Dean for Richard Philips ; that they said Captain Stevens
would not resign but to him, that Dean was fifteen years mate of a
ship ; that having signed liis warrant, to put liim out again would
be an eternal disgrace on them I told Sir Robert I was sure he
had acted sincere to us in the affair, but I thought neither he nor
I were well used. That with difficulty we had brought the
Corporation right, and now we were to work up-hill again, for this
was the greatest enemy we had whom the Post Office had put in,
and he would revive our contests, and seduce our friends from us.
Sir Robert asked, " How ?" I said by tempting one voter with
promising to make him his mate, another that he should bake for
his ship, another that he shall brew for him, etc. That Mr. Carteret
had from the beginning of Parhament been my enemy, and had
told me he would be so for ever, and I find it still so. Sir Robert
said, " But you see we are up wdth him in Mr. Harrison." I
answered him, Mr. Harrison would scarce give me the hearing
when I spoke to him. " Well, but " (said Sir Robert), " Dean
shall not debauch away your friends, for I will send to Harrison
and order him to charge Dean to be your humble servant and to
see that he is so, or otherwise they shall hear of me upon it." I
answered I was sorry I had given him so much trouble upon it,
and if this had not happened, he would have been eased of any
further applications, for the Corporation had been fixed. He
said he was sorry too, and so I took my leave.

The House read the Manufacture Bill a second time, and com-
mitted it for Monday next, at Sir WiUiam Strickland's desire,
that counsel might be heard on the petitions that are conung up
from Yorkshire, from the wool growers and spinners, which cannot
be denied them. This delay would have concerned me, because of
the shortness of the Sessions, but that I w^as privately assured
the Ministry design the Bill shall pass.

I was told the Lords had this day read the Unenumerating Bill
a second time, but that they had re-committed the NaturaUzation
Bill, which runs risk of being lost, and if it should, I shall not be
sorry, because the clauses added to that Bill by their Lordships
do in a great measure weaken the security we had given
the Protestant possessors in Ireland by the clause Mr.
Hambleton drew, and which was added to the Bill in our
House.

Madam Bertoldi, the opera singer, dined with us. Li the evening
Sir John Bland came to see me and brother Parker.

I had an account that my niece Dering's fever is returned.

Friday, 23 April. — This morning I waited on the Prince to thank
him for honouring my house with his company Wednesday last.
He prevented me, by thanking me for letting him take the liberty
of troubling my house, where he said he passed his time most
agreeably. He said also that he used it as his own, was over the
house, and found nothing missing but poor Mr. Dering and you
know, said he, I cannot but miss him. I answered that it was a
great honour for me that anything I had was agreeable to his Royal
Highness, and he might use it as his own, since all I had was at his
service. Afterwards he turned to the Dukes of Manchester and

182 DIARY OF THE

April 23-26
St. Alban's, to my Lord Harborrow, General Clayton, Mr. Whit-
worth and others, who he talked to, and then turned again, and
asked me after my niece Dering, hoping she was better. I rephed
I feared she was much worse, and that she had a fever. He asked
if I would not send her abroad for her health. I answered, that
would be too far out of our sight, but I designed she should go to
Charlton when fit for it, and the weather changed.

Afterwards I went to the House, and from thence to dine with
my brother Parker, who had invited Sir George Savile, IVIr. Horace
Walpole, Mr. Earl, Mr. Dodington, and Mr. Cary. From thence
I went to the House, who I found sitting on the Bankrupt Bill.
We broke up at seven o'clock, and I returned home.

Saturday, 24 April. — Visited brother Percival and IVIr. Augustus
Schutz, with whose lady I left her husband's note to my brother
Dering for 200?., he having paid me 4=21. I6s. 6d., the remainder
of his debt to my brother due on that note, the rest having
been furnished him in bills of exchange in his journey to
Ley den. I then went to Court. Sir Jolm Bland and his lady
dined with us, and in the evening my brother Parker came and
gave me writings of a life in reversion of thirty pounds a year
given by him to my niece Dering, in the manor of Steeple Ashton
in Wiltshire ; it is given in the name of Jo. Harrison, and the
reversion is after the death of Will. Palmer, of Telston, gentleman.

Sunday, 25 April. — Went in the morning to chapel, then to
Court.

Dr. Couraye dined with me. Went in the evening to chapel,
and returned home in the evening.

Monday, 26 April. — This day I was visited by Dr. Tessier, and
then went to Mr. Annesley's, to enquire after the draft of a mortgage
on my lands for the 2,658Z. 2s. Sd. I owe my brother and sister
Dering, deceased : on discourse with him he concluded that I
had better make up a fair account of that money, debtor and
creditor, it being dealings between us of money borrowed and lent,
which when signed by me, together with providing for payment
of the debt in my will, will be sufficient security to my niece for the
money.

Mr. Annesley had, ijy my direction, drawn a formal mortgage
of part of my estate to my brother Parker for security of this sum,
wherein it was not exprest that this money was my niece's, but it
appeared as if my brother had lent me the same out of his own.
This I objected to, because if my brother should die before the
money is paid, his executors might, if ill people, come upon me
for the money as due to them, not to my niece. He said he had
provided against that by a second writing declaring the uses and
design of that mortgage to be for my niece's money. I read it,
and found it answered the purpose, but if my brother's executors
should be evil minded, they might sink that second declaratory
writing, and though I should have a counterpart of it, might trouble
me at law. Or it may be they or I might lose it. Mr. Amiesley
replied there must, indeed, be some confidence put in Sir Philip,
and under him in his executors, and since I did not care to trust
his executors, he thought an account stated, debtor and creditor, of
the sums borrowed and lent between my brother Dering and me,
signed and witnessed, and the balance declared to be to the child's
use, would sufficiently secure her money, if moreover, I provided

FIRST VISCOtTNT PERCIVAL. 183

1731.

for this debt in my will. But he advised I should draw two
accounts, one of disbursements and receipts ending at my brother
Bering's death, the other of disbursements and receipts from his
death.

He also advised me, that my brother Dermg having articled in his
marriage settlement to settle 3,000Z. on his wife and child, I as
trustee of that settlement, as administrator to him, and executor
to my sister Dering, and guardian of the child, am obhged
to secure that 3,000/. in the first place before any debts be paid.
That by that settlement it appears 1,500Z. of that 3,0001. was to be
my sister's own money, which she might dispose of as she pleased
by will, and having made a will and bequeathed all to my wife
in case of her daughter's death unmarried and under age, that
1,500Z. would in such case fall all to my wife, but that the other
1,500Z., which is the part of the child, will if she die in such circum-
stances, be devided between her next relations, her uncle Sir Philip
Parker Long and my wife equally.

I told him that was not my sister's intention, who designed
when she made her will to give all in case her daughter died to my
wife, but if the will was not drawn so it was the attorney's fault.
However, that would neither trouble my wife nor me, and I hope
my niece would live to enjoy aU.

As to drawing up the accounts above mentioned, he offered
me the assistance of Mr. Barsham, liis clerk, who understood his
meaning and was very capable to advise and help me in it, for
which I thanked him. I left the rough draft of that mortgage
and the explanatory writing with him, as useless to me, and brought
away the marriage articles of my brother Dering.

I afterwards went to Mr. Hoare, the Banker, and stated and
adjusted my account with him to the 9 April, 1731, on which day
he paid me the balance of that account, and he now delivered
me up my vouchers, as I on the other hand dehvered him up his
own.

I went to the House, where I stayed till nine o'clock, and then
returned to dinner.

Two Bills of importance detained me so long. The first was
that to prevent running of wool. We went into a Committee, and
received several new instructions, which were passed, and clauses
to those purposes were added to the Bill. The chief of them was
the opening more ports in Ireland to admit Irish wool and yam,
which Mr. Gyles Earl moved for, and the Committee agreed to open
the city of Limerick and the towns of Galloway and Dundalk.
This was on one side debated by Mr. Earl, Sir William Young,
Colonel Bladen, Mr. Barnard and Mr. Walpole, who all were for
it ; Mr. Sands, Mr. Daniel Pulteney, Captain Vernon, Lord
Tyrconnel, Sir William Strickland, and Sir Abraham Elton were
against it ; upon the division we carried it one hundred and six
against sixty-four. Mr. Pelham, Mr. Oglethorp and divers others
who were against the whole Bill, divided with us, and gave for
reason, that it would clog the Bill, and be an argument with the
Lords to throw the Bill out.

The arguments for opening these ports were that the fair trader
(of whose running wool there is no instance) might have opportunity
to bring Irish wool and yam into England, and then the wool
owners of that part of Ireland where these three ports stand would

184 DIARY OF THE

April 26
not be obliged to run their wool, as now they do by necessity,
they being debarred exporting it for England, and having no vent
for it at any other port of Ireland now open, except they bring it
by land carriage to such ports, wliich is a charge of ten or twelve
per cent, on their wool : this charge being so heavy tempts the
owners to run their wool to France, and since it is thought expedient
that the Irish should not run their wool : it is wrong to shut the door
upon them not to bring it to England. The arguments against
opening those ports were that two of them, Galloway and Limerick,
lie on the west coast of Ireland, and by the necessitj^ of having
two winds, ships cannot come conveniently to England above one-
fourth part of the year, but may go %vith one wind to France, and so
will be tempted to run. Besides that about Galloway, the
inhabitants are chiefly Papists, and have great correspondence
with France. The clause for repealing the hberty given the seamen
of Ireland to carry to sea forty shillings' worth of manufacture,
occasioned some debate.

Captain Vernon : I brought in this clause upon sure information
that it is exceedingly abused, and under colour of it a vast deal
of manufacture is clandestinely exported not only to Lisbon, but
to the West Indies.

Mr. Gibbon : I wish it were quahfied, for it is very hard the sea-
men should go long voyages without necessary clothing.

Daniel Pulteney : I agree with Mr. Gibbon. Allow them some
liberty, though you put it less than forty shillings.

Mr. Earl : There is no inconvenience can arise by repealing
this clause. I know the seamen commit the greatest frauds
imaginable ; they will put you on five or six coats, all which they
sell when they arrive at foreign ports.

Mr. Scroop : That liberty was given to prevent the seizmg ships
on every occasion, for before it was common to do it upon finding
a single coat on board. It will spoil all navigation.

Mr. Lawson : Thought it necessary to pass this clause of repeal.

Accordingly the Committee agreed to it.

The clause for taking off the duty caused a fresh debate, but
gave occasion to a new clause to explain what yam shall be
admitted into England, namely, the woollen and bay yam, but not
the worsted yam, on which there is a higher duty than on the other.
That on account of this higher duty, the worsted yam comes in
as bay yam, but it not being our intention to admit worsted yam,
he offered a clause for prohibiting it, under the name of yam twisted
in two or more threads. Which was agreed to. But when the
clause for taking off the duty on the other was read, Sir Gilbert
Heathcot, Sir William Strickland, Lord Tyrconnell, Mr. Pelham,
Mr. Oglethorp, and Wortly Mountague opposed it ; on the other
hand, Mr. Earl, Daniel Pulteney, Sir William Young, Mr. Walpole
and Mr. Drummond strongly argued for it.

Upon the division, they who were against it appeared so few that
they would not divide, so we went through the Bill, and ordered
it to be reported to-morrow.

After this, which held us till six o'clock, we went into the Com-
mittee of the Charitable Corporation Bill, and for three hours
debated filling up the blanks. We had several divisions upon
the sums to be allowed the Corporation for charges, hazards, etc.,
in lending upon pawns, but the enemies to it were so few they would

riRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 185

1731.

not tell. In one division I counted they were but thirteen. We
agreed, first, that the interest they should take should be five per
cent. ; then as to charges, we agreed that the borrowers under
twenty pounds should pay five per cent. ; those from twenty pounds
to one hundred pounds three per cent. ; those from one hundred
pounds to five hundred pounds two per cent., and all above but
one per cent.

Whether the Corporation shall lend any sum above five hundred
pounds, is left to future consideration, as also whether they shall
be allowed anything for sales ; some were for lumping all the
charges to be allowed them and sales together at one per cent.,
others at three, but it was not thought reasonable that those who
borrowed and redeemed their pledges should pay anything towards
sales, and therefore ought to be distinguished. The great opposers
of the Corporation w^ere Sir Gilbert Heathcot, Mr. Barnard,
Mr. Perry, and Mr. Plummer, but Mr. Drummond, Oglethorp, Sands,
Daniel Pulteney, and Sir Archibald Grant supported them.

I met Sir Robert Walpole at the House, and showed him the
following memorial of my brother Percival desiring his favour, if it
was reasonable, that he might be excused paying the tax.

"Philip Percival, Esq., purchased the employment of Customer
and Collector of the port of Dubhn, and has diligently served the
Crown in the same near tw^enty years. Lawsuits obliged him to
come over to England, Avhere, being detained in his Majesty's
Prerogative Court, he is disabled from returning to Ireland, and
thereby becomes subject to the tax in Ireland, amounting to between
seventy and eighty pounds, paying for the profits of his employ-
ments, as well as for the salarj^ which is conceived a hardship.

" His Majesty has power to excuse whom he pleases from paying
this tax, and accordingly several gentlemen have been excused,
particularly Mr. Whitchot, who has no place about his Majesty,
nor is member of Parhament, and we desire your favour, if you
think it reasonable, that Mr. Percival may have the like indulgence,
having, as has been said, purchased his employment, served near
twenty years in one port, and being prevented by the Prerogative
Court from returning to Ireland within the limited time.

" It is moreover to be observed that Mr. Percival holds his place
in joint commission with another, who constantly resides in Ireland,
so that it cannot be said the proper officer is out of the kingdom.
All which is humbly submitted."

I told Sir Robert that when I troubled him before on this matter
by letter from Bath, his objection was that the King had made
it his rule not to excuse any person from that tax but such as were
in the Parliament of England, or who had employments about the
Court, but Mr. Whitchcot not being in that case, I hoped we had
found a precedent to the contrary, and therefore that his objection
was removed.

He replied Mr. Whitchcot has a place of eighty pounds a year
under the Lord Chamberlain, and therefore is within the case,
and yet it was with great difficulty his Majesty had been brought
to excuse his tax. That were it otherwise, my brother if excused
would be a second precedent, and then a third would come. How-
ever, he assured me that there was not a man in England he would
more willingly serve than me on any occasion. I replied, I had
always seen his good dispositions toward me, and was under great

186 DlARV OF THBJ

April 26-30
obligations to him. That I should always return it, but was so
small a person that I had it not in my power. He answered it
was quite otherwise, my quahty and fortune was an advantage,
and an honour to those I gave my friendship to.

Tuesday, 27 April. — I visited my brother Percival, and then
my Lord Bathurst, where my Lord Carteret came in. We dis-
coursed over the Wool Bill, and both those Lords said they would
be for passing it, and that it was fit to try the expedient of taking
off the duty on Irish yarn. I then called on Lord Wilmington
and Lord Palmerston, who were not at home, and afterwards I
went to the House, where we received the report from the Wool
Committee, and ordered the Bill to be engrossed. Sir Abraham
Elton and Captain Vernon spoke against opening the ports, but
ineffectually, and Sir William Strickland and IVIr. Lawson spoke
against the whole Bill. Sir Richard Lane answered them, and then
we divided whether the Bill should be engrossed — which we
carried by 66 against 44.

Sir George Savile, Sir Philip Parker Long, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Earl,
Mr. Cary, and Mr. Horace Walpole dined with me.

The Lords sent us this day the Bill for admitting unenumerated
goods to come from the Plantations into Ireland, with a small
amendment of the word British, instead of English, which they
have left out, and at my Lord Isla's desire put in the word
British.

They also returned us the NaturaUzation Bill, which is like to
meet with opposition in our House from Mr. Oglethorp, who has
a sister the widow of Mons. de Mezieres, in France, a gentleman
who was a Papist and served against our Crown in the Flanders
wars, whereby his children are excluded the benefit of our
Naturalization Act, and by a clause therein made incapable of
succession to Mr. Oglethorp's estate, if he dying \vithout children
should incline to leave it to them. Mr. Oglethorp alleges, that by
law Partus sequitur ventrem and therefore the mother being an
English woman, her children ought not to suffer on the father's
account ; but Sir Philip York, Attorney General, says it is only
by the Civil Law that Partus sequitur ventrem, the Common Law
being otherwise, so that Mr. Oglethorp's nephews and nieces are
already excluded from inheriting, and this clause does not make
them worse than they were before. However, Mr. Oglethorp
says the Attorney may be mistaken, and is resolved to endeavour
to throw out the Bill.

Wednesday, 28 April. — I went early to the House, bemg upon a
private Committee, which being over, I walked into Westminster
Abbey and saw the beautiful monument of Sir Isaac Newton,
carved by Rysbraek of Antwerp, who has long settled in England.

At the House we passed the Wool Bill upon a division of 127
against 84. Notice was taken by Daniel Pulteney of the report
that the Lords will throw it out, wherefore he thought it better
the Bill should drop in our House than there, because upon its
passing ours, some gentlemen had declared they would expect Ireland
should do as much against running their wool as if the other House
had passed it too, which he believed Ireland would not do, and
so a handle would be taken to be severe on that kingdom, though
really it is our fault that they do nothing. Sir William Strickland
joined with him for dropping the Bill, and urged it was the interest

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 187

1731.

of Ireland to desire the dropping it, for if it pass, the wool and
manufacture ^vill still be run, which will draw the resentment
of this kingdom upon them. He was sorry to hear that if the
Lords drop the Bill Ireland will do nothing ; is it to be declared
here that Ireland will continue to run if we do nothing ? He hoped,
as they have not submitted to our laws, the time will come when that
kingdom shall be sorry to put things to the trial. If he had an
estate there, he should be sorry to see that day.

Many other gentlemen spoke in the debate, which I have taken
notice of in my paper to Dr. Coghill.

We passed this day the Unenumerating Bill, with the Lords'
amendment, and carried it back to them, and we likewise passed
the Naturahzation Bill with their Lordships' amendments, but
Sir John Hind Cotton, Daniel Pulteney, Mr. Bromly, Mr. Palmer
and Mr. Ogle thorp spoke against it. Ogle thorp, Sir John Hind
Cotton and Broml}^ were for dropping the Bill, the others for
putting it off to a short day to be better considered, because it
might possibly affect some particular interests, but the Attorney
and Solicitor Greneral spoke learnedly for it, and showed the reason-
ableness and expediency of it, so that on the division we were
151 against 41. On this occasion, several Tories stayed in with
us, and all the discontented Whigs also, Daniel and Will. Pulteney
excepted, it manifestly appearing that the design for dropping
the Bill was in favour of Roman Catholics, who by the common
and statute law have no right to reclaim their ancestors' pos-
sessions.

I returned home to dinner, and then went to the play with my
daughter Catherine.

Thursday, 29 April. — This morning the Lords gave the Wool
Bill the first reading, and ordered the second reading on Monday
next, that all the Lords should be summoned and the Bill printed.
The Duke of Argyle, Earl of Islay, Earl of Aylesford, and Duke of
Newcastle were violently against it, and for immediately rejecting
it, but my Lord Carteret, Lord Bathurst, Earl of Scarborough and
Lord Falmouth were for it. In the Commons House the Charitable
Corporation Act passed the Committee, and was ordered to be
reported Saturday next.

Sir Wilham Strickland acquainted me that the King had yielded
to my request to permit Lieutenant Conron to exchange with
Ensign Armitage, but that it was a particular favour, his Majesty
having for the first time broke into his rule not to suffer a superior
officer to change with an inferior. That Armitage must go to the
West Indies to the regiment.

I desired him to give my humble thanks to his Majesty, and
when I came home I wrote to Conron about it. After dinner I
went to the Vocal Music Society.

Friday, 30 April. — This morning I visited the Bishops of
Lichfield and Gloucester, and discoursed them about the Wool
Bill, which is on Monday next to have a second reading in the
Lords' House, and will by what I can find be then thrown out.
However, I was willing as many Lords should appear for the Bill
as possible. Both their Lordships were persuaded by what I said,
that it was fit the Bill should pass. I then went to the House,
where Mr. Walter Plummer made a motion that the House would
address the King to disband the Hessian troops. This was opposed

188 DIARY OF THE

April 30-May 6
as depriving the King of the merit of doing it, and as suggesting
to the people that the King would not do it, unless in a manner
constrained to it by an address. The debate held five hours, and
on the division we rejected the motion, 210 against 89.

I returned home to dinner, and had my concert for the last time
this season. The performers were IVIr. Needier, Mr. Mulso,
Mr. Withrington, my brother Percival, Mr. Fsljh, Mr. Vernon,
Mr. Bagnal, and the great bass for the instrumental parts, and
Signor Fabri, Signora Bertholdi, Mrs. Demer and my daughter for
the vocal.

The company were Lady Evelyn, Lady Bland, Lady Leusham,
cousin Le Grand, sister Percival, Mrs. Minshull, aunt Whorwood,
Mrs. Schutz, etc.. Lord Leusham, Sir John Evelj^ and his son,
Mr. Le Grand, Mr. Wesley, Mr. Francis Gierke, etc.

Saturday, 1 May. — I went to the House, and then to Court.

Mr. Stringer and brother Parker came in the evening.

Sunday, 2 May. — Went in the morning to the King's Chapel.
Passed the evening at home, my wife being from morning taken
extremely ill of an oppression on her breast and chest. Dr. Couraye
and Mr. Soley dined with me, the latter undertook to get in my
brother Bering's money due from the auditors' office, and the
\vine license, together with the fees.

Monday, 3 May .—This morning, my wife's indisposition continuing,
she was cupped. I went to the House, where the Bill for regulating
the Charitable Corporation passed — 71 against 35.

The Lords also committed the Woollen Bill for Wednesday
next ; contents, 47 ; not content, 32. My Lord Carteret spoke
for it like Cicero, Lord Bathurst like Demosthenes ; the Dukes of
Newcastle and Argyle and Lord Strafford against it like
declaymors. Lord Isla spoke as dubiously, and voted for it. All
the Bishops but Bishop Harris were for it.

In the evening I settled my brother Dering's accounts with
Aspinwall and Wogan.

Tuesday, 4 May. — This morning I visited brother Percival, and
then Sir Robert Walpole, who being well affected to the Wool Bill,
I thought it proper to see him after what passed yesterday in the
House of Lords. I told him I was glad to see his influence was as
great in the House of Lords as in the House of Commons ; he took
me immediately, and said he was glad to see the number that
carried the committing the Bill ; that his heart was with it. I
said the number seemed to promise the Bill Avould pass ; he
answered it looked something like it, but you must do your parts
in Ireland. I replied we intended it. He then desired the Carolina
Company, in which I am concerned, would abate him five hundred
of the two thousand lottery tickets he promised us, for the lottery
is over full by above thirty thousand tickets, and he was obliged
to cut off from the whole in order to please all. I said I would
enquire how many we had sold and let him know. After this I
went for a short while to the House, and returned early to
dinner.

In the evening I went to the opera.

Wednesday, 5 May. — I hurried about to speak to Lords in favour
of the Wool Bill, appointed to be considered this day in a Com-
mittee. I waited on the Bishops of Lichfield and Gloucester, on
Sir Robert Walpole and Lord Bathurst. I then introduced

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 189

1731.

Dr. Maddon to the Duke of Dorset, being designed one of his
chaplains. Then I visited my niece Dering at Brompton Park,
and went to Court. Afterwards I went to the House of Lords,
where I expected the Wool Bill would come on, but the long cause
of the Fredericks was heard by counsel, which held till seven
o'clock, and was carried without a division to confirm the Chancery
decree, and two hundred pounds costs given. The lateness of the
day occasioned the putting off the Wool Bill and several others to
to-morrow, whereby I greatly fear the fate of the Bill, the King,
as is reported, designing to come then to the House and put an
end to the Sessions, or at furthest on Friday next.

Colonel Schutz told me tliis morning that he gave the pamphlet
I recommended to his Royal Highness' reading; and that the
Prince told him he had read it thrice, and thanked him for showing
it him. I saw the Prince in the House, and was told by one of his
retinue that he came do^vn to vote for the Bill.

Thursday, 6 May. — I run this morning about town to get Lords
to attend the Wool Bill this day. I called on Lord Grantham,
Lord Pomfret, Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Cadogan and Lord Wilming-
ton, but none except the latter were at home. I called also at Sir
Robert Walpole's, where I spoke to my Lord Warmck, but he is
dubious about the Bill. Lord Wilmington told me that my Lord
Islay intends to move for papers, which will delay the Bill and
lose it for want of time. He advises that the Parliament of Ireland
should, notwithstanding the Bill miscarries this Session, pass a
temporary Bill when they meet for a short time, as, suppose, for a
year and to the end of next Session of Parliament, which will show
their sincerity, and we need not doubt the Parliament's inclination
here to give us this Bill next year.

I then went to the Prince, to whom I half-an-hour before sent
another printed pamphlet in favour of the Bill. He told me he
would read it, and his own thoughts were in its favour.

After dinner, I went to the House of Lords to see the fate of the
Bill. Their Lordships agreed to every clause till they came to
that for taking off the dut}" on Irish j^am, which the Earls of Strafford,
Islay, Ailsford and the Dukes of Newcastle and Argyle strongly
opposed. My Lord Carteret and Lord Bat hurst spoke more strongly
for it, however. On the division, the contents were but 35, the
not contents 38 ; so we lost it by three. My Lord Strafford and
Duke of Argj^le were then for rejecting the Bill, but the Earl of
Islay, Lord Delawar, Earl of Winchelsea and Lord Carteret spoke
for deferring the further consideration of it a week, which they
said was only a more decent way to dispose of it, since the House
would be up before, and the House agreed with them.

To the best of my observation, these were the Lords ^vho voted
on either side : —

For the clause to take off the duty.

Dukes of Kent, Dorset, Richmond, Mountague, Grafton ;
Marquises of Tweedale, Lothian ; Earls of Orknej^, Thorn ond,
Burlington, Orery, Arran, Marchmont, Westmoreland, Winchelsea,
Scarsdale, Plymouth, Coventry, Dunmore ; Viscounts Falmouth,
Torrington ; Lords Lynn, Cadogan, Bathurst, King, Malton ;
Bishops of Lichfield, Gloucester, Chichester, Exeter, Hereford ;
Earls of Wilmington, Essex, Fitzwalter; Lord Comwallis — in
all 35.

190 DIABY OF THE

May 6-June 6
Against taking off the duty.

Dukes of Newcastle, Argyle, Manchester, Devonshire, Rutland,
Ancaster ; Earls of Islay, Strafford, Aylesford, Macclesfield,
Warmck, Denbigh, Albemarle, Sutherland, Hopton, Tankerville,
Halifax, Sussex, Cowper ; Viscount Lonsdale ; Lords Mounson,
Byron, Lovel, Hobard, Foley, Clinton, Harbarrow, Pomfret,
Willoughby de Brooke, Gower ; Bishop of Landaff ; Earls of
Cardigan, Ferers ; Lord Say and Seal ; Earl of Lichfield — ^in
aU 38.

Friday, 7 May, 1731. — This morning Lord Wilmington proposed
me for a vestry-man of St. James's parish, and I was unanimously
elected. I visited my brother Percival. Dr. Maddin, the Prince's
chaplain, and Lord Bathurst came to see me. My niece Dering
being much recovered, went this evening to Charlton.

Saturday, 8 May. — I went with my wife to Charlton, and returned
at night.

Sunday, 9 May. — I went in the morning to the King's Chapel,
and afterwards to Court. The Prince whispered me that he was
sorry the Wool Bill did not pass, but that he could not in decency
vote either way, but, said he, it will pass next year. I repUed,
I was honoured before with his Royal Highness 's sentiments of
that BiU, and that he did very prudently to vote neither way,
but I could not help being sorry the Bill did not pass, because the
Parliament of Ireland could not in prudence pass a Bill. He asked
why so ? I answered, because they could not recall their Bill if
pernicious, and England would never pass a Bill that should be
favourable to us. He replied, " Yes it would, and the Court would
join its strength to it." I answered boldly again it would not,
which ended our conversation.

Mr. Hambleton and Mr. Bindon dined with me.

I went in the evening to chapel, and returned home.

Monday, 10 May. — This morning I visited my brother Percival.
Dr. Couraye dined with me, and in the evening my wife and we
walked in Kensington Gardens, where my wife was again taken
ill of her stitch and the colic, and obliged to send for Dr.
HoUins.

Tuesday, 11 May. — My wife passed a very bad night, but by
laudanum found ease and recovered very much. I went and dined
at Charlton, and returned at night.

Wednesday, 12 May. — I went with my family to Charlton, and
lay there.

Thursday, 13 May. — Returned to hear a public performance of
the Vocal Club, and lay in town.

Friday, 14 May. — Returned to Charlton before dinner.

Saturday, 15. — Came to to^^^l to see the opera.

Sunday, 16. — Went to chapel, visited young Mr. Walpole and
brother Percival. Returned to Charlton in the evening.

Monday, 17. — Wednesday, 19. — I stayed at home.

Thursday, 20. — Lady Londonderry and Lady Donegal came and
dined with us.

Friday, 21. — Lord and Lady Bathurst and their two eldest
daughters came and dined with us.

Saturday, 22. — Stayed at home.

Sunday, 23.— Went to church. In the evening Mr. Dawney
came to see me.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 191

1731.

Monday, 24. — Dr. Couraye and Mrs. MinshuU came down to
stay the summer with us. Captain Bronhard came to see me.

Tuesday, 25 ; Wednesday, 26. — Stayed at home.

Thursday, 27. — My landlord, Mr. Games, his wife and two
other ladies dined with us.

Friday, 28. — Mr. Carte and Captain Martin dined with me.
The former is a nonjuring clergyman, who being concerned in
Lear's plot, had a thousand pounds put on his head by proclama-
tion, and saved himself by flying into France, where he afterwards
became my Lord Granville's chaplain. Soon after my Lord
obtained leave to come home. Mr. Carte also, by the interest of
Dr. Mead and Samuel Buckly, the King's printer, was forgiven,
and the time limited by the proclamation for taking him being
expired, he returned, and is employed in publishing the history
of Thuanus in Latin. He is also writing the life of James the
First, Duke of Ormond, and hearing I had some family papers
that may be useful in that design, he came to look them over,
and I lent him several bundles and some manuscripts, for which he
gave me an acknowledgment to return them when demanded.

Sunday, 30. — Went to church morning and evening. Cousin Ned
Southwell and cousin Le Grand came to see me, as also Colonel
Savary, who gave me a writing of his to peruse against Dr. Couraye's
late books.

Monday, 31. — I went to town on several occasions and dined
with Cousin Le Grand. Returned with my wife at night.

Thursday, 3. — Sent Dr. Coghill my letter of attorney to demand
of my cousin Edward Dering the remainder of the bond debt due
from Charles Dering, junr., deceased, to my brother Daniel Dering,
being 578?. 25. Od. principal money, and 1521. 6s. Qd. interest to
20 February, 173x, as also what interest is due since that time.

Friday, 4. — Stayed at home.

Saturday, 5. — Writ to Lewis Jones, Esq., in Dublin, and enclosed
him a letter of attorney to receive for me my brother Dering's
arrear of pension, as also an affidavit made by Hanaghady of
the day of my brother's death.

Sunday, 6. — I communicated at Charlton Church. In the
evening visited Mr. Blackwood and Mr. Dawney. Mr. DaAvney is
eldest son to my Lord Downs of Yorkshire, an EngUsh gentleman
with an Irish title. He was bred at Oxford, from w^hence he
brought away a zeal without knowledge for the Church and
Pretender, for he will not suffer the King to be prayed for in his
family prayers, which he reads to his servants twice a day. How-
ever, he was once in Parliament in Queen Anne's reign, and
endeavoured the same when the late King came in, but miscarried.
He could not sit without abjuring the Pretender, and swearing
that he acknowledged both the Queen and King to be lawful and
rightful supreme Governors of these kingdoms, without any
reservation or evasion. How he reconciled this with refusing to
pray for them I know not, nor can imagine. We have often heard
of sermon hunters, but seldom of communion hunters. This
gentleman makes it his practice to take communion every Sunday
at some church or other if lying within a convenient distance,
which uncommon zeal I was at a loss to account for (knowing that
however Oxford inspired him with warmth for the Church, it did
not with warmth for religious devotion), but this day I learned the

192 DIARY OF THE

June 6-19
reason of his assiduity, for discoursing him of many things, among
the rest he told me that hearing sermons, though fitting, is the
least of a Christian's duty, when they meet for pubUc worship,
but that the essential part is communicating ; that the ancient
Christians never assembled mthout doing it, and thought their
service otherwise imperfect. He added that commemorating the
death of our Lord is not the principal business when we com-
municate, but the offering up the elements to God, a doctrine he
said our Church should have retained, and that when we reformed
we went too far.

As near as this comes to Popery, he acknowledges the Church of
Rome to be full of errors, in doctrine and *'paris " [? practice] and
tells some f)leasant stories which he gathered in his travels. For
the rest, he is a sober man, keeps a large family of servants, though
a \\idower, and I believe is charitable, though careful enough of
his money. He has just parts enough not to be distinguished for
the want of them.

Monday, 7 ; Tuesday, 8. — Stayed at home, and entertained
Anger (sic) for my son's valet-de-chambre, at sixteen pounds a
year wages, and ten shillings and sixpence board wages.

Wednesda}^ 9. — One Mr. Ferguson, chaplain to the Earl of Stairs,
came to desire I would order Mr. CoUyer, my solicitor, to pay
John Goffe, a relation of his, 33Z. 65. Sd. John Goff is an apprentice,
and relation of his, and was left this money in Mr. John Yarwell's
mil, to be paid at the death of his widow, and when I bought his
house in Pallmall, I subjected myself to pay the legacy he left.
I told Mr. Ferguson that two days before I had writ to Mr. CoUyer
for that purpose.

Thursday, 10 June. — I went to town, in order to go next day
to Hampton Court, being the King's Accession day.

Friday, 11. — Went to Hampton Court from London over Fulham
Bridge in two hours and half. Dressed at Mr. Schutz, where I
like%vise dined, after I had been at Court, where there was a vast
crowd. There I saw the Duke of Devonshire kiss hands for the
place of Privy Seal, which put me in mind of Cahgula's making his
horse consul.

The Earl of Burlington kissed hands also for the office of Captain
of the Band of Pensioners, the Lord Delaware for that of
Treasurer of the Household ; Lord Forbes and Lord Vere
Beauclerk for the command of two men of war.

News came the night before that the Spaniards had signed
a promise to accede to the Vienna Treaty, conditionally that
Don Carlos be in less than five months settled in Parma.

The Prince spoke a good deal to me about my son, who was,
I said, in Ireland, and had some thoughts of getting into Parliament
there ; to which he replied, that was his genius, with several other
kind expressions.

Saturday, 12. — I returned to dinner to Charlton.

Sunday, 13. — I communicated at church. In the evening
visited Mr. Percival and his lady at Eltham.

Monday, 14. — Stayed all day at home.

Tuesday, 15. — Went to town to receive my brother Percival's
instructions for applying to the King and Sir Robert Walpole
for his Majesty's grant of his title to a bastard's estate in
Somersetshire, to whom my sister Percival was nearest relation,

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 193

1731.

and which she will go to law for, in case the King gives her his
title.

Wednesday, 16 June, 1731. — Stayed all day at home.

Thursday, 17. — Went to town to speak to Sir Robert Walpole
about my brother and sister Percival's affair. I acquainted
Sir Robert that I intended to have an audience of his Majesty
upon it, which he approved, and said he would back it. He observed
to me how ready he was to serve me on all occasions, which I
acknowledged. I afterwards dined with my brother Percival, and
returned to Charlton. In town I learned a confirmation that the
Duke of Dorset had come away dissatisfied from his Majesty,
that his power as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as to the giving places
was as much abridged as was my Lord Carteret's. That his Majesty
had told him with warmth he did not understand why himself
should not be the giver of places, and he would have the thanks
of it himself.

I learned also that upon the return of a courier from England,
the King of Spain had actually signed the accession to the Vienna
Treaty, and that the reason why he hung back, was to know
whether we would transport Don Carlos into Italy, though the
French should refuse to do their part in it, which we consented
to, but he refused to guarantee the Imperial succession.

I found also that Mr. Oglethorp and the other gentlemen con-
cerned in the Carolina settlement are displeased with the charter
as drawn up by the Attorney General, who has constituted a new
election of Councillors every three years, which we apprehend
is to take the power out of our hands, and put it into new ones,
who may convert the scheme into a job. He has also put the Militia
of the intended colony into the single hand of the Governor of
Carolina, whereby he at his pleasure may distress our people.
He has also inserted some words that seem to give the Eong a duty
on the imports and exports of the small traffic they may carry on,
which is thought a great discouragement.

Friday, 18. — Stayed at home all day. Sir Archibald Grant
came to see me, and told me that although the Act did not pass
last year for establishing the Charitable Corporation (of which
he is one of the principal managers), yet they intend to conform
themselves thereto, and can demonstrate that the woollen manu-
facture can sell cheaper fifteen per cent than if the Corporation
subsist ; and he doubts not but next year the manufacturers will
petition in its favour.

Mr. Angel, who I had engaged to go with my son abroad, came
to tell me my Lord Cowper would not part with him, so he desired
I would quit his engagement to me, which I did.

Saturday, 19. — To-day Mr. Donegan, who has studied physic
nine years in France, dined with. me. He came recommended
to me by Mr. Dumvil at Paris. He told me he was bom on
Mr. Conron's farm at Welshestown, and therefore must be the son
of some poor cottager who sought his fortune. He said he has
recommendations from Dr. Helvetius, physician to the Queen of
France, to Dr. Mead. Mercer, my tenant at Timbridge, writ me
word this day that Mrs. Mottley died this morning. I ordered him
to lay out five pounds in burying her. By her death, thirty pounds
a year falls to me, which I allowed her in charity, being a near
relation of Sir Jo. Guise, but abandoned by all her friends.

Wt. 24408. E 13

194 DIARY OF THE

June 20-26

Sunday, 20. — ^This day I have been 21 years married, and I
acknowledge God's blessing that I have lived so many years in
full happiness with my dear wife.

Mr. Percival, Secretary of the Navy Office, and his wife, dined
with me. He gives the same arms with me, and tells me that his
grandfather was of Somersetshire, from whence my family originally
came. That his father was a younger brother, and with his small
fortune bought sixty pounds a year in Derbyshire, on the borders
of Nottinghamshire, and went into Cromwell's army when
King Charles set up the standard at Nottingham, for the soldiers
of that unfortunate Prince living on free quarter so pillaged the
country that all the middling sort of people thereabouts were
totally ahenated. His father was at the battles of Edge Hill,
Marston Moor, etc., and afterwards went over to Ireland with
Cromwell, where he settled in Dublin, and got this present gentle-
man his son, with two others his brothers, one of whom died three
years ago minister of Wilmington, a mile from Dartford, in Kent.
He had married the Dean of Rochester's daughter, on which account
the Chapter of Rochester presented him to that Hving, which he
enjoyed many years, and left three sons and a daughter. The
daughter is married to a clergyman who was the father's curate
till his death, and then another being presented to the living,
this young clergyman retired to London, and is waiting for some
cure. He has a sinecure in some county, which I have forgot.
The father was a very good man, but the three sons are vile men,
and Mr. Percival, their uncle, knows not if they are living or dead.

As to Mr. Percival, he married Mrs. , and has two sons

hving and a daughter, his eldest son died a month ago, another
has been lieutenant at sea fourteen years, and is now just made
second Heutenant to my Lord Forbes. The grandfather, father
and this present Mr. Percival were all christened John.

Mr. Percival presented me with a printed book (not sold in shops)
entitled " A list of his Majesty's ships and vessels of the Royal
Navy, with their rates, tunnage, and respective complements of
men and guns, dated at the Navy Office, 1 November, 1730."

By this book it appears we have now —

~ ' 7

2nd Rates of 90 guns

13

3rd Rates of 80 guns

16

of 70 guns

24

4th Rates of 60 guns

24

of 60 guns

40

5th Rates of 40 guns

24

of 30 guns

1

6th Rates of 20 guns

29

In all

178

Fire ships

3

Bomb vessels

3

Store ships . .

1

Sloops

13

Yachts

7

Do. small

5

Hoys

11

Smacks

2

1731.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 195

Long boats . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Buoy boat . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Lighters . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Hulks 9

Total of ships in the service . . . . . . 238

Captains of men-of-war in service and on half -pay . . 177
Masters and Commanders of ships of 20 guns in service
or on half -pay . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Vice Admiral of England . . Earl of Berkley.
Ried Squadron.

Admiral Lord Torrington.

Vice Admiral . . . . Sir Cha. Wager.

Made Admiral of the Blue in room of Sir John Norris.
Rear Admiral . . . . Sir Greo. Walton.

White Squadron.

Admiral Sir Jo. Jennings. '

Vice Admiral . . . . Batchen.

Rear Admiral . . . . Cavendish.

Blue Squadron.

Admiral Sir Jo. Norris.

Turned out in July, 1731.
Vice Admiral . . . . Baker.

Rear Admiral . . . . Capt. Steward.

Monday, 21. — Stayed at home.

Tuesday, 22. — Returned the visits of Sir Archibald Grant and
Sir Gregory Page, and visited the Earl of Pomfret.

Wednesday, 23. — Captain Marten dined with me, and presented
a piece of music in score of the late Dr. Croft's composition. In
return I presented him with two guineas under colour of subscribing
to his book of Poems. He is very poor, but I think an honest
man.

My son writ us letters we received this day, giving an account
of his reception at Canturk, which made us smile.
Thursday, 24 ; Friday, 25. — Stayed at home.
Saturday, 26. — Stayed at home. My son writ me from Cork
(which I received this day) that Downdeady, which I offered
to sell Sir Em. Moore at 180?. a year, will be worth 200/. when
the lease is out ; and the person who sold Sir Emanuel his
interest in it endorsed upon the lease but half the sum Sir
Emanuel paid him for it, which (as my son writes) is an evident
sign that Sir Emanuel had a mind to deceive me. I excused
him to my son the best I could, hoping this sort of roguery
does not run in the blood : for when old Sir Emanuel, this
gentleman's grandfather, marry'd his son Sir William to
my father's sister, he engaged his tenants to sign new leases at
double the rent, in order to satisfy my father in the marriage
settlement, but when Sir William came to the estate, and
thought himself in a good condition, the tenants shewed him their
defeazances, whereby the rent was reduced again to its half
value.

I received a letter this morning from the Duke of Dorset that
he could not serve my cousin Scot by giving him his late brother's
post of ensign, having promised it before to Colonel Howard.

196 DIARY OF THE

June 27-July 9

Sunday, 27 ; Monday, 28 ; Tuesday, 29. — Stayed at home.
Mr. Barecroft, brother Parker and cousin Fortrey came to dinner.

Thursday, 1 July, 1731. — Baker, Mayor of Harwich, and Cockeril,
his brother-in-law, dined with me, as also brother Percival and
Mr. Clayton, the lawyer. The latter came to tell me that
Mr. Wainwright had been with Sir Robert Walpole as desired, and
explained to him the nature of my brother's petition to the King
for a grant of his Majesty's right to the escheated estate of
Mr. Piggott, who died a bastard. I promised to go to the King
and present the petition.

I am assured the Blue Guards are ordered down in haste to
Dover, and that all the Dragoons quartered remote from London
are ordered for Kent, upon news that the French are marching
a body of troops to Dunkirk, and that orders are sent to the army
to hold themselves in readiness.

My wife brought me from London the Free Briton, a weekly
paper writ by Fra. Walsingham, Esq. (a supposed name), which
author owns himself to be the writer of the Remarks on the
Craftsman^ and that Sir Robert Walpole, to whom Mr. Will. Pulteney
ascribed that pamphlet, knew nothing of it, nor any minister nor
dependant on any minister. He accuses Mr. Pulteney's reply
to be full of falsities.

Saturday, 3. — Captain Lucas dined with me.

Sunday, 4. — Mons. Bar but, junior, dined with me, and from
his father presented me with an old French romance called
'' Percival le Gallois," a quarto printed about two hundred years
ago. Li the evening I went to return Earl of Pomfret's visit.

Monday, 5. — I went with my wife and eldest daughter to town,
in order to go next day to Hampton Court. We dined with my
brother Percival, and in the evening I went with him to see
Counsellor Clayton to advise with him about my brother's petition
to the King.

Tuesday, 6. — We went to Hampton Court. I desired a private
audience of his Majesty, and obtained it. I said to his Majesty :
" Sir, I thank your Majesty for the favour of this audience, and
before I acquaint you with the subject of it, beg leave to return
your Majesty my most humble thanks for the many favours I have
received at your hands, which are graved in a grateful heart. Sir,
as to the point I come to trouble you upon, it is to petition you
in favour of the nearest relations I have, my brother and sister
Percival, in a matter wherein your own right is to [be] defended.
There is lately dead a gentleman who had the misfortune to be a
bastard, and, by the law of England, those who are such and die
without a will, their estate falls to the Crown. Now, Sir, this
gentleman appears indeed to have made a will, but we doubt not
to show that is a forged one, made to defeat your Majesty's title,
and the reasonable application which the next relations of the
deceased might have of succeeding to his estate by your Majesty's
favour ; and if your Majesty will be so good as to grant your
title to my brother, who in right of his wife is that gentleman's
nearest relation, he will go to law for the estate, by which your
title will be preserved, and after thirty-one years j'^our Majesty
will enjoy the whole." " I know it," said the King. *' In the
meantime," said I, " your Majesty will have one -third of the real
estate, which is near seven hundred pounds a year, besides which

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 197

1731.

there is near five thousand pounds personal estate." "Is the
estate in Ireland or England ? ," said the King. " In England,"
I rephed (but I forgot that there is two hundred pounds of it in
Ireland). Said the King : "Give your petition to the Treasury,
and I will do what belongs to me in it." " Sir," said I, *' you
give me a new proof of your regard to me, and as I shall carry the
great sense I have of your countenance and favour to the grave,
I have taken care that mj^ son shall be sensible of them likewise."
The King, with a gracious smile, rephed, *' I shall always be ready
to do for your family, and go soon to Sir Robert Walpole, for he
goes out of town this week, and you will lose a fortnight." This
was extremely kind of his Majesty, for it showed he was much in
earnest to oblige me in this affair.

Afterwards, I waited on the Queen, who talked to me of
Dr. Couraye, and said my wife was very kind to come so far to see
her. I repUed the greatest distance had been but little to pay
our duty to her. She said we were very obliging. She then bid
me come nearer out of the crowd, and talked of Dr. Couraye, who
she said was a very honest man, and heard he was to go this
summer with Mr. Duncomb into Wiltshire. I replied I knew nothing
of it, but believed he would pass the summer with me. He never
will be a Protestant, said she. " No, madam," replied I, " I believe
not ; but neither is he a Papist, and he goes constantly to our
church, making a conscience of it." " Aye," said she, " that the
Papists make no scruple of ; a Jesuit told me they may do it
though 'tis a sin in our minister to officiate and a mortal one."
I replied that it was odd to make it a duty for to go to our church
and yet make it a sin in our ministers to officiate, for should they
not officiate because a sin in them, how could this duty be per-
formed by us ? Said she : " Many things may be good when done,
that are not allowable to be done." I replied, whatever that
Jesuits told her, it seems by Father le Quen, and other writers,
that the Jesuits' doctrine was not that of the Romish Church.
She said 'twas true they thought otherwise. "Well," said she,
" I believe I shall employ him upon * Thuanus ' again, for I hear
the translation in France does not go on." I replied, he only
waited her commands to begin that, or any other work she should
order him.

We dined with my Lord Grantham, and had an elegant dinner
of seven and seven, with apologies for its being so bad for want
of notice. In the evening we returned to London.

Wednesday, 7. — I sent to Sir Robert Walpole at Chelsea to
acquaint him with his Majesty's gracious intentions for my brother,
and to desire I might know when I might wait on him with my
brother's petition. He sent me back w^ord, at twelve. But,
mistaking my servant's words, I thought he meant to be in town
at twelve. "VVTierein being disappointed, I enclosed the petition in
a letter, and gave it to my brother to deliver him, and then I
returned to Charlton to dinner at four o'clock.

Thursday, 8. — Stayed at home.

Friday, 9. — Mr. Duncomb came from London and breakfasted
with me. He told me that yesterday he was at Hampton Court
where a rumour spread that Sir Robert Walpole was that day
suddenly dead in his chair, at which the King turned pale ; but
afterwards it came out that it was the Countess of Warwick. He

198 DIARY OF THE

July 9-23
told me also that .Franklin, the bookseller, being to go on his trial
next Monday for publishing the Craftsman, a special jury was
appointed on that account, and Mr. Skerrit named one of them,
wluch was thought strangely imprudent, because of the talk it
would occasion. Mr. Skerrit's daughter being kept by Sir Robert
Walpole.

Saturday, 10 July. — Mr. Pemberton and another gentleman
came this morning from London to demand 30^. due by
Mr. Yarwell's will as a legacy. I told them I would write to
Mr. Collyer about it, and on his answer direct my banker to pay
the money if due.

My cousin Will. Percival writ me from Fort St. Gleorge that
he had married the daughter of Mr. Horden, second of the place,
who died a few months before, who had brought him wherewithal
to subsist handsomely at present. He is the best of the three
brothers, and deserves to be assisted in the world, being very
industrious, and I think my godson, for I have so many, I know
not who they are all.

Sunday, 11. — Communicated at church. Mr. Newton dined
with me. A hearty old gentleman of seventy-nine years old, of
small fortune, but contented. He lives in the parish, and is nephew
to Sir Adam Newton, who built Charlton House, and should have
heired the Warwickshire estate, but Sir Adam Newton's son.
Sir Henry, having changed his name to Puckering, for an estate
bequeathed him, when he died left that estate to a Puckering,
and as to this of Charlton, Sir Henry was obUged to sell it, being
partly undone by siding with King Charles in the Civil Wars, and
partly by too good housekeeping. King Charles the Second made
him Paymaster of the Army, which calling him up from his retire-
ment in Warwickshire, made him take to the extravagance of a
courtier's life. He left a son, who was a member of Parliament,
but died before his father, so that the title became extinct.
Sir Adam Newton was preceptor to Prince Henry, and built Charlton
House for a nursery to the Royal family, and King James gave
him both house and manor for reward of his services.

I went in the evening to see my cousin Percival at Eltham,
who showed me the remains of King John's palace. It was sur-
rounded by a great moat, over which there are two stone bridges
of three arches each. It stood on a good compass of ground, but
nothing now remains, the great dining hall excepted, which is
now converted into a bam, and Eing John's bedchamber apart-
ment, wherein a tenant to Sir John Shaw dwells. That hall is
entire, and a very noble lofty building, comparable to Westminster
Hall, and about two -thirds as long, large and high. The Palace
was standing in King Charles the First's time, who was nursed there,
and King Henry the Eighth spent three Christmasses there before
he built at Greenwich. Oliver Cromwell granted it to General
Ireton, who pulled do^vn most of the materials, sold all the lead
roof, and cut down the fine woods about it to make money of all
he could, after which on the restoration it reverted to the Crown,
and King Charles the Second granted it to Sir John Shaw's grand-
father, for a long term of years. The minister Cromwell put into
that parish held it till the year 1725, when he died ninety years' old.
There is a fine subterraneous passage of hewn stone a foot higher
than a man that leads by report from the Palace to Greenwich,

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. l99

1731.

the tenant told me he has gone about a quarter of a mile in it,
when he met with a stop, the ground being fallen in. Mr. Percival
showed me among his collection of naval papers the original orders
of King Charles the First, signed by himself the 28th July, 1725
{sic), to Admiral Pennington, to deliver up his ships to Mons. Deffrot,
the French Admiral, and to sink the seven English merchantmen
that were with him if they refused to do the like ; these ships were
expected by the nation to have been designed for the relief of the
Rochellers, and they were strangely scandahzed to see them given
up to the French to serve against them. Accordingly, when the
ParUament met, they addressed the King to know who advised
it, and that Pennington should be ordered to come before them
and answer to his charge. The second letter the King writ him
on this affair was to order him to comply with their request, but
the King therein advises him to answer with caution, as one who
had professed to be his Majesty's friend and was his servant, which
in other words was to bid him disguise the matter the best he
could. This letter Mr. Percival showed me likewise, and both are
rare anecdotes, discovering the truth of that infamous transaction.
If they had fallen into the hands of the ParUament, they had
made work of it, but they had them not, and though the ParUament
in their remonstrance mentions the affair as it really was, yet they
had not the certainty of it, nor do any historians of those times
mention the fact as positive, which gave the Earl of Clarendon
in his answer to that remonstrance an opportunity flatly to deny
the King's orders to Pennington to do as he did.

Monday, 12 July. — This day being my birthday, I complete my
age of forty-eight years, and enter upon my forty-ninth. I bless
God that lutherto I have had neither gout nor stone, but enjoy a
perfect state of health. Many other are His mercies to me. I am
in possession of a good name, and of a fortune greater than what
my father left, though I at times have sold off near twelve hundred
pounds a year, besides what I gave my brother Percival, whereby
I more than doubled his portion, and besides gifts at several times
to the value of nine thousand pounds. I have a wife after my
own heart, being perfect in every virtue, and without alloy, and
three children sound in body and mind and dutiful. My son
gives himself to useful things, and promises to make a considerable
man if he can be it without breach of his integrity and virtue,
which he is remarkable for ; and my daughters have made great
progress in their exercises. I count it my highest felicity, that at
the same time that I am perfectly sensible of my happiness, I am
ready to part with it aU, and to change this life for a better when
God pleases : the thought of death carries no sting with it for
me. Blessed be God !

Tuesday, 13 July. — This day old Mrs. MinshuU and Mr. Javaegam
dined with us.

Wednesday, 14 ; Thursday, 15. — Stayed at home.

Friday, 16 ; Saturday, 17 ; Sunday, 18. — Stayed at home.

Monday, 19. — My cousin Le Grand and her daughter and son
came to stay a week with us.

Tuesday, 20 ; Wednesday, 21 ; Thursday, 22.— Stayed at home.

Friday, 23.— Went to London, and dined with brother Percival.
Visited my brother Parker, who by necessary care has preserved
himself from a fit of the apoplexy.

200 DIARY OF THE

July 24-Aug. 31

Saturday, 24 — Wednesday, 28 July. — Stayed at home. Francis
Pelham, of Harwich, came to tell me his bad circumstances. I
lent him on his note another ten guineas.

Thursday, 29 — Saturday, 31. — Stayed at home.

August, 1731. Sunday, 1 — Tuesday, 3. — Stayed at home.

Wednesday, 4. — Went to town 's\'ith my wife, and returned
in the evening.

Thursday, 5. — Returned Mr. Signoret's visit. He is a merchant,
but spends much of his time at Greenwich, where he has a pretty
house and garden, and a fine study of books. He married a
daughter of the famous Dr. Allix, French minister : a handsome
woman and of great merit. Sir Charles Wager, now Admiral of
the E«d, married another.*

Friday, 6. — Pulham came again to me to tell me his shop was
shut up, that his creditors are thereupon all come upon him, that
he owes ninety pomids in all, and had mustered up seventy pounds
towards paying it. That he was forced to abscond, and had but
three shillings in his pocket. I gave him a guinea, and told him
I had writ in his favour to Mr. Walker, Commissioner of the
Customs, that if Bully, riding surveyor of Harwich, were turned
out for drawing his sword on the Mayor of Harwich, the Board
might give his place to Pulham, and that he answered no com-
plaints had yet come up, but if that should be the case, viz., that
the Board should dismiss him the service, he would give me his
assistance.

Saturday, 7 — Wednesday, 11. — Stayed at home. This day
Mr. Coot, of Ireland, with my brother and sister Percival and
Mrs. Donellan came to dine with me.

Thursday, 12. — Stayed at home.

Friday, 13. — I went with my wife to Hampton Court, and at
my return went to a concert of music at my brother Percival's,
and lay in London.

This day Mr. Hoare, the banker, paid by my order to Mr. Collyer,
my solicitor, 501., which was to finish the payment of Yarwell's
legacy, due by me for my house in Pallmall, as per agreement
with Yarwell's widow. This 501. was to pay Hawes 20Z., and
Pemberton, the heir of Lidia White (if I mistake not), SOL
Mr. Collyer 's receipts will shew it.

Saturday, 14. — I returned to Charlton.

Sunday, 15 ; Monday, 16. Stayed at home.

Tuesday, 17. — Went to town and dined with cousin Le Grand.
Returned at night.

Wednesday, 18. — Stayed at home.

Thursday, 19. — Cousin Le Grand came and dined with us.

Friday, 20 — Monday, 23. — Stayed at home.

Tuesday, 24. — Mr. Kellet, a clerk in Chancery, who does business
for my brother Parker, and lodges as Blackheath, came to see me
upon his being employed to procure us a longer term in our lease
of Charlton from Mr. Games, or 2,000Z. for the surrender of our
term. He could tell me nothing to my satisfaction.

Wednesday, 25 ; Thursday, 26. — I stayed at home.

Friday, 27. — I returned the visits of Lord Pomphret, Sir Archibald
Grant, and Mr. Kellet, all on Blackheath.

♦ But see D.N.B. where it is stated that Wager married a daughter of
Anthony Earning.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 201

1731.

This day, Sir Jo. Evelyn writ me word that the Marquis of
Blandford died the twenty-fourth at Balliol College in Oxford,
and he feared of a drinking bout. My Lord was about thirty-four
years old, and had several good qualities. He was very charitable,
and so negligent of money that he seldom carried any about him,
nor even required an account of servants. When he would give,
it was by order of those who kept his money. He was likewise
virtuous as to women, even before his marriage. His only fault
was drinking, and loving low company. He was pious, and had
no sort of pride nor ambition. He married a Burgomaster's
daughter at Utrecht for love, who was some years older than him-
self, after the Earl of Denbigh's example, who married her sister.
She made a good wife, and has four thousand pounds a year jointure,
but brought him no child, so the title of Marlborough, after the
death of the young Duchess, his mother, goes to the Earl of
Sunderland, who being likely to succeed to the old Duchess's
estate, will be the richest peer of England, if 75,000/. per annum
will make him so.

It is now currently believed the Duchess of Parma is not with
child, and it is said the King has an express that she has owned
the cheat, and had a sum of money given her to carry it on, either
by the Pope or King of France. It seems she was watched so
narrowly that she could not conduct the affair with that nicety as
is necessary in such cases. This will revive the opinion that the
Pretender's birth is spurious, King James's Queen being of the
same family and house ; and it is worth remark that when that
Queen died she left all from her supposed son, though it did not
appear that he had any way offended her.

From 27, stayed at home to 31. The 31, Mr. Botmar came
with Martini, the famous ** hautboy," and dined with me. We
talked of the brutality and insolence of certain persons to their
superiors, and Botmar told us three instances of it. Bononcini,
the famous composer, was in the Emperor Joseph's favour to that
degree that he made him extraordinary presents above his salary,
yet he had the insolence often to refuse to play when he sent to
him for that purpose. At last the Emperor made him come to
Court, and asked him, '' Do you consider it is an Emperor whom
you refuse?" "Yes," replied the saucy fellow, "but there are
many sovereign princes, and only one Bononcini." This insolent
temper obliged him to leave that Court, and he came in the late
Queen's time for England, where for a while he reigned supreme
over the commonwealth of music, and with justice for he is a very
great man in all kinds of composition. At length came the more
famous Hendel from Hanover, a man of the vastest genius and
skill in music that perhaps has lived since Orpheus. The great
variety of manner in his compositions, whether serious or brisk,
whether for the Church or the stage or the chamber, and that
agreeable mixture of styles that are in his works, that fire and
spirit far surpassing his brother musicians, soon gave him the
preference over Bononcini with the English. So that after some
years' struggle to maintain his throne, Bononcini abdicated, and
the present young Duchess of Marlborough took him into her house
with a salary of five hundred pounds a year, a sum no musician
ever had before from any Prince, nor ought to have. While he was
there, the gentlemen of the King's Chapel set up their club of vocal

202 DIARY OF THE

Aug. 31-Sept. 2
and instrumental music, of which I am a member, and Bononcini
accepted to be one of the principal conductors of it, Bishop
Stephani, formerly known by the name of Abbe Stephan, when
at Hanover, a person most famous for harmonious cantatas of two
voices, being declared our president, though absent.

For two or three years our concert proceeded with great imion,
till last year (1730) two accidents fell out that divided us ; never-
theless we still hold on, though, hke the fall of the angels in heaven,
the best of our vocal performers went off with Mr. Green, the
humpback, organist of St. Paul's and the King's Chapel, the chief
undoubtedly of our English composers now living.

Our first misfortune was the loss of Bishop Stephani, who died
that year, in honour of whom the club resolved not to elect a
president for the future, but to keep that post vacant, as if there
were no man living worthy to supply his place. This was a resolu-
tion insupportable to Bononcini, who had reason to expect that
honour, and thereupon he cooled very much in his affection to
the club, coming very seldom, but still he continued of us, and
favoured us at times with his compositions, which were generally
fine ; at last (I noAV come to the second accident I spoke of) he
sent us by his friend Mr. Green a composition to be performed,
which one of the club, who is versed in foreign music, acquainted
us was not the work of Bononcini, but of the Emperor's master
of the chapel, and proved it by showing that very composition
printed several years ago, and dedicated to the Emperor. The
club were astonished that so great a man as Bononcini should
descend so low as to father another man's works, and impose
them on us as his own, and mentioning their surprise in public,
Bononcini could not but soon hear of the matter. He stormed
and maintained the gentlemen had accused him falsely, insisting
that music to be still his own ; whereupon it was agreed to write
to Vienna to the composer to know the truth. In the meantime,
Bononcini withdrew from our Society, and many of it, who are his
professed friends, taking his part, left us also.

Three months ago Bononcini quarrelled with the Duchess, his
protector, on pretence she used him ill. In return for the handsome
salary she gave him, he used to entertain her with concerts, which
she accepted, not imagining that he would bring her in a bill at
last to pay the performers, some of whom were promised three
guineas a time. The Duchess, making a demur to paying them,
Bononcini took a distaste, left her, and has formed a scheme to
erect a music meeting at York buildings in opposition to the
Opera. This is the story of this proud man, who if he had valued
himself less, the world would have esteemed him more.

The second instance of brutality and insolence was the reply
which Colonel Churchill, bastard to the late General Churchill,
made to her Majesty. She asked him one day whether the young
Duke, her son, who was standing by, was not the handsomest boy
he ever saw. " Yes, madam," replied he, " except my own son."
This son was his bastard by Mrs. Oldfield, the player. The Queen,
with great calmness (though resenting it, you may be sure), said,
" I thank you. Colonel."

The third instance was Dr. Bently's reply to the Queen, who,
asking him what he thought of a book they were discoursing of,
answered, " It was well enough for a German writer." A saucy
expression to a Queen of that nation

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 203

1731.

I had this last from Dr. Couraye, to whom she told it.
If it shall be thought fit to raise a monument over my deceased
brother Dering, who with liis wife lies buried in Sir Philip Parker's
vault at Arwarton, I would have this epitaph inscribed thereon.
Here lie the remains
of Daniel Dering, Esq.,
descended of an ancient family, which
came into England with the Saxons,
and still flourishes in the
County of Kent.
His father was Colonel Daniel Dering,
younger brother of Sir Edward Dering, Bart.,
and his mother was Helena,
sister of Sir John Percival, Bart.,
of Burton, in Ireland.
This gentleman married Mary, the younger,
daughter of Sir Philip Parker, Bart., of
Arwarton, in Suffolk.
By whom he left Catherine, an only
child, now living.
He was by King George the First, at his accession,
appointed Commissioner of the wine license,

and afterwards made auditor of the

Duchy of Cornwall to his Royal Highness

Frederick, Prince of Wales,

which offices he held till 13th Sept.,

1730,

When God removed him at 42 years' old

from the land of the living and undoubtedly

preferred him to a Higher Place.

For he was a man endowed with all

Christian virtues, sober, just, and pious

without affectation, generous and

charitable beyond his ability, affable and

modest even to a fault, wise to advise,

and eager to serve others, himself the last.

A most tender Husband, fond Parent, kind

master, and to his King and Prince a

zealous and indefatigable servant.

He was a perfect friend, and could forgive

an enemy, but he had none to try him,

for all who knew him loved him and those

who only heard of him admired his

character.

Learn reader by his example that

sickness and death is all that distinguishes

some men from angels.

Wednesday, 1 September, and Thursday, 2. — Stayed at home.

This last day young Mr. Barbut came and dined with me, and

brought a relation of his, who said he had a letter from a friend in

Amsterdam to enquire if my Lord Percival, who lived once in

Pall-mall, was still in being, because a great niece of his, a married

lady to one Mr. Baily, and who is very well to pass, was arrived from

St. Christopher Island, and had desired him to make the enquiry,

purposing if I was alive to come over and make me a visit. He

204 DIARY OF THE

Sept. 2-Oct. 11
added that the gentlewoman was bom in St. Chiistopher's, whose
father's name was Josias Percival, and her grandfather's George.
I replied I never had a relation at St. Christopher's, and he might
see I was not old enough to have a great niece, marriageable ;
that I must be mistaken for some other person of the same name,
and that as to the title of my Lord, it is the custom abroad to call
any EngUsh gentleman in good circumstances my Lord. That
to be my great niece, she must have been grand -daughter to my
brother, but my brother never had but one child, a girl, that died
a year or two old.

Friday, 3 — Sunday, 5. — Stayed at home, only in the evening
I went to Bromley to pay a visit to Doctor Wilcox, the new Bishop
of Rochester, my old acquaintance at the College, where he was
then Fellow, and now my diocesan. He is now very busy in
repairing and adorning his house and garden.

Monday, 6. — I stayed at home, and Mr. Richard Philips and
his wife, of Harwich, came to stay some nights with me.

Tuesday, 7. — I went with my wife to lie one night in town, and
dined with my brother Percival. In the evening I called on
Mr. Annesley, to leave with him a new draft of a will, intending
to cancel the old one, but neither he nor Mr. Barsham, his clerk,
were in town, wherefore I left the mil with Mr. Hoar, my banker,
to be delivered to Mr. Annesley or his clerk when called for,
intending to write to them for that purpose. Mr. Turner there
took charge of it. After this I went to the Bedford Arms Tavern
in Co vent Garden, to meet the gentlemen concerned in the Carolina
Plantation, and I found there Mr. Oglethorp, Mr. Digby,
Mr. Heathcot, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Hucks, and Mr. .

We read over the draft of the King's patent constituting our
Corporation, and took notes of several objections thereto with the
reasons for supporting our objections, which are to be reduced
into writing and given to the Attorney General. They filled up
some blanks, particularly that I am to be president for the first
year, and Mr. Digby chairman.

Wednesday, 8. — I visited my couslq Le Grand, and then returned
to Charlton to dinner.

Thursday, 9. — Stayed at home.

Friday, 10. — Captain Dumaresque dined with me, and I gave
him a letter to Colonel Schutz to back his petition to the Prince to
speak to Lord Torrington for one of the new sloops now building,
he being paid off and his sloop ordered to be sold.

Saturday, 11. — Stayed at home.

Sunday, 12. — Communicated at church, and then went with
my wife and dined at Southwark.

Monday, 13. — Stayed at home.

Tuesday, 14. — Went to the Coffee House at Greenwich.

Wednesday, 15. — ^Went to Southwark mth my wife, and dined
there.

Thursday, 16 — Sunday, 19.— Stayed at home. My brother and
sister Percival dined with me.

Monday, 20 ; Tuesday, 21.— Stayed at home.

Wednesday, 22. — Sir Archibald Grant came to see me, and
Sir Gregory Page.

Thursday, 23. — My wife went to Hampton Court, and brought
me word that the Prince had promised upon my recommendation

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 205

1731.

to speak to my Lord Torrington that Captain Dumaresque may
have one of the new ships ordered to be built in lieu of his own,
which is paid off, adding this gracious expression, that he would
do anything to serve me.

The same day Captain Dumaresque came to see me to tell me
he had presented his petition to the Prince ; that Marquis le Forest
introduced him with great expressions of kindness, and Mr. August
Schutz backed it. And he gave me a letter from Colonel Schutz,
that he was sure the Prince would speak at my request, though
it is not an usual thing. The Captain brought \vith him one Allen,
who has fifty pounds a year to draw shipping for Sir Jacob
Ackworth. He desired I would speak a good word for him to
Sir Jacob, which I promised him : he is an ingenious young man,
and took to drawing of himself, being bred a ship carpenter.

Friday, 24. — Mr. Dawney came to see me. I received a letter
from my son, dated 14th instant, from Ballimacow, that he had
concluded his agreement with Mr. Fitzgerald of Kerry to be elected
member of Parliament for Dingle for 500?.

Saturday, 25. — Cousin Percival, Secretary of the Navy Office,
his lady and daughter, dined with me. Captain Bronhard came
in the evening and talked of Lord Abergavenny.
Monday, 27. — Mr. Dawney visited me.

Tuesday, 28. — I went to town with my wiie, and dined with
cousin Le Grand.

Wednesday, 29 ; Thursday, 30. — Stayed at home.
October 1, Friday; Saturday, 2. — Stayed at home.
Sunday, 3 October. — Visited cousin Percival at Eltham.
Monday, 4 ; Tuesday, 5 October. — Stayed at home.
Wednesday, 6 October. — Stayed at home. Colonel Schutz came
to dine with us, and his lady. He told me the Prince had spoken to
my Lord Torrington, who promised his Royal Highness that Captain
Dumaresque should be one of the first preferred. I desire the
Colonel to thank his Royal Highness for the favour. He told
me in confidence the Prince played deep every night, even to
lose 6 or 7001., which grieved me much.

Thursday, 7 — Sunday, 10. — Stayed at home. Communicated
at church, where Dr. Stubbs gave us a very good sermon. In the
evening I went to town, in order to go next morning to Hampton
Court to make my compliments on the King's Coronation day.

Monday, 11. — Went with my wife and daughter to Hampton
Court, where we were received very graciously, and my wife in a
particular manner. I learnt there that the new writ as given
out by Captain Bodin is to be acted by the influence of some about
the Court at Co vent Garden ; that Wilks, the manager, gave his
opinion that if the two last acts, which he had not yet seen, were
exceeding better than the three first, the play might act one day,
not knowing that it is the Prince and my Lord Harvey who are
the authors.

I stood near the Queen, when she called up the Speaker of the
House of Commons, who stood in the crowd quite behind the circle.
** Come near, Mr. Speaker," said she, " I think you don't care to
come up." This she said, because Sir Robert Walpole (who is
reported to influence the Queen in all matters of politics and the
characters of men), is not well with the Speaker, and consequently
the Speaker not well with the Court, and not frequent in attending

206 DIARY OF THE

Oct. 11-Nov. 13

the levees. The Speaker boldly replied, " Madam, if my distance
be a sin, I hope your Majesty will lay it at your own door." The
expression was strong and no compUment, neither did the Queen
take it so, for she, who is as quick as any person I ever knew,
immediately turned to my Lord Chancellor and me, and said :
*' This is a rub for me, but I must say something to give it you
again, Mr. Speaker." Then, pausing awhile, she said, " Here is
the Speaker of the House of Lords ; I will set him on your back,"
intimating that as great as he thought himself, a greater man than
the Chancellor paid his respects at Court better.

Sir Robert Walpole invited me to dinner, but I told him I did
not dine at Hampton Court. He had the marks on his face of a
third fall from his horse this summer ; but better he had ten faUs
in October than one in January.

We returned soon as the Court broke up, which was half an hour
after three, and dined in our coach.

Tuesday, 12 October. — We dined at my brother Percival's, and
I waited on Counsellor Annesley to take his advice how I should
proceed to secure Charles Bering's debt to my brother Dering.
He gave it me, and I ^vrit a letter to Ned Dering the same night
to desire he would give me judgment on Charles's bond to Daniel,
which would entitle me to a preference of payments before other
creditors out of what effects Charles left, otherwise that I must
proceed adversarily, that is, compel him to give judgment, which
the Court will do.

I also left heads for a new will with him.

Wednesday morning, 13 October. — We returned to dinner to
Charlton.

Thursday, 14. — Dr. Couraye returned from the Marchioness of
Blandford's seat in Buckinghamshire, where he was desired to go
for some days and comfort my lady in her great affliction for her
Lord's loss, who though he settled on her 3,0001. a year, has left
her in very bad circumstances for the present by reason of his
debts, amounting to 2,500?., which he has not left effects sufficient
to satisfy, and at the same time (he dying before the quarter of
her jointure becomes due), she finds herself without a farthing
of money. She sent a list of the debts to my Lord Godolphin,
her father-in-law, in hopes he would pay them, or some part, but
he sent it back and said they did not concern him, neither has he,
nor the young Duchess of Marlborough, his wife, nor the old
Duchess, or any of the family, been to see her or sent to her on this
occasion. It is true she is not of so noble a family as her husband's,
but her father was the chief magistrate at Utrecht, and gave her
6 or 7,000?. fortune, and one would think that common humanity
would have induced a better behaviour from these highminded
folks and the consideration that she was the wife of their son.

This day sennit, the young Duke of Buckingham, aged about
sixteen years, being recalled from Rome by his Majesty's express
letter, because of a report that the Duchess, his mother, had private
meetings there with the Pretender, or his wife, waited on his
Majesty, who, it was remarked, said nothing to him when he was
presented, nor did the Queen say much.

From Thursday, 14 to Monday, 18. — I stayed at home.

Tuesday, 19.— I went to town with my wife to inquire about
the Charitable Corporation, in which my wife has 500?., and

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 207

1731.

whose surety Tompson ran away last week with their books,
and, it is thought, with a great deal of their cash and effects,
but we heard things were not so bad as represented, though the
fact is true. This day my niece Kitty is 7 years old.

Wednesday, 20. — My soh wrote me from Dublin, that he shall
still be a member of Parliament for Dingle, in the county of Kerry,
and expressed his desire if I thought good to be made a Privy
Councillor.

Thursday, 21 — Sunday, 24. — Stayed at home.

Monday, 25. — ^Went to town with my wife.

Tuesday, 26 ; Wednesday, 27. — Stayed at home.

Thursday, 28. — Went to town in the evening with my family
for some days, particularly to wait on the Court on the King's
birthday, which is next Saturday.

Friday, 29. — I visited several friends.

Saturday, 30. — Went with my wife to Court, being the King's
birthday, where was a great number of persons and very finely
dressed. I saw the Duke of Lorrain, who travels incognito under
the title of Count Blamont. I gave an account of him this night
to my son. The King was very civil to my wiie, asking her many
questions, as the Queen was to me.

Dined with my brother Percival.

Sunday, 31. — Said prayers and read a sermon at home, then
went to Court, where there was a great crowd, and the King spoke
to me. Brother and sister Percival dined with me.

November, Monday, 1 . — Went to Counsellor Annesley to explain
my instructions for drawing up my will. Then went to the practice
of the revived opera " Tamerlan," where I saw the Duke of Lorain
sing a part.

Dean Berkley, who arrived Saturday last from Rhode Island,
dined with me, and seems rejoiced that he treads English ground
after three years' absence in a country of which he gives a very
indifferent account.

Tuesday, 2. — I visited brother Parker, who came last night
from Wiltshire, and then returned with my family to Charlton
to dinner.

Wednesday, 3 ; Thursday, 4 ; Friday, 5 ; and Saturday, 6. —
Stayed at home. Mrs. Schutz came for some days to stay with
us on Friday, and this day Dean Berkley and his wife dined with
us.

I had an account this day that the Duke of Bedford lost this
day sennit at Newmarket 3,800?. to Captain Johnson, Captain
Bladon and other professed gamesters. They played from
Saturday night till Sunday night — twenty-five hours running.

My son writ me from Dublin, dated 30th of October, that he
was elected at Dingle without opposition, and was to be introduced
into the House as Monday last.

Sunday, 7. — Dean Berkley, Counsellor Foster, with his wife,
dined with us. Stayed at home from this day to Saturday, 13.

Saturday, 13. — Mr. August Schutz came yesterday and lay
two nights with us.

The character of the Prpnce] is this : he has no reigning passion,
if it be it is to pass the evening with six or seven others over a
glass of wine and hear them talk of a variety of things, but he
does not drink. He loves play, and plays to win, that he may

208 DIARY OF THE

Nov. 13-26
supply his pleasures and generosity, which last are great, but so
ill placed, that he often wants wherewith to do a well-placed
kindness, by giving to unworthy objects. He has had several
mistresses, and now keeps one, an apothecary's daughter of
Kingston ; but is not nice in his choice, and talks more of feats
this way than he acts. He can talk gravely according to his
company, but is sometimes more childish than becomes his age.
He thinks he knows business, but attends to none ; likes to be
flattered. He is good-natured, and if he meets with a good
Ministry, may satisfy his people ; he is extremely dutiful to his
parents, who do not.retum it in love, and seem to neglect him by
letting him do as he will, but they keep him short of money.

Sunday, 14. — Communicated. Dr. Warren dined with me, and
his son, who is in deacon's orders, and is designed our minister.
Dr. Warren preached against the sectaries and heretics of this age.
At dinner he told me that parson Bowman, a young man of twenty-
seven years old, who preached that sermon lately (which makes
so much noise) against the necessity of Bishops to any Christian
Church, was expelled out of Emmanuel College in Cambridge for
stealing the College plate. That the King having given him a
living besides that he holds of Dewsbury, which is his own by
inheritance, it was necessary he should have a dispensation, where-
upon since his preaching scandalous though trifling sermon, he
waited on the Archbishop to obtain the favour. The Archbishop
was contented with his answers to his examination, and bid him
come the next day. In the meantime came a letter from the
Archbishop of York desiring his Grace not to grant Bowman a
dispensation, acquainting him that he was the person who made
that libel, and that for his own part he was resolved not to grant
him one. The Archbishop did not know before that this was the
same. Next day came Bowman, as appointed, attended by the
Dukes of Mountague, Richmond and Earl of Essex, who, finding
his Grace to make a difficulty, made it their particular request,
and were importunate with him to give the dispensation, which
so moved the old Prelate, who is the most mannerly and patient
man alive, that he told them : " My Lords, if the King should
come himself and ask it, I would refuse him." This resolution is as
much commended and extolled by the clergy as it is blamed by
the courtiers, yet I hope not all the courtiers.

Monday, 15 ; Tuesday, 16 ; Wednesday, 17. — Stayed at home.

Thursday, 18. — Went in the evening to London.

Friday, 19. — Went to Counsellor Annesley to advise with him
about Charles Dering's bond, and showed him Ned Dering's letter
to me on that subject, dated 2nd instant, wherein he says nothing
of giving me judgement on said bond. Mr. Annesley advised me
to write once more to him to desire him to declare his resolution,
and to tell him that if he mil give Judgement, I will not execute
it in six months.

I also advised with him whether I should pass my niece Dering's
accounts in Chancery. He said it is needless, being sure of mine
own integrity in the trust, and when she came of age I might end
matters with her. The danger only was, if I should die before ; that
my brother Parker or his executors, who have an interest in my
niece's fortune, might give my executors trouble, but my accounts
being fair, there would be no handle to vex them. That passing

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 209

1731.

these accounts in Chancery would cost above 20^, which is too
much out of my niece's fortune. Upon this, I told him I would
suspend my resolution. He gave me the draft of my will to
peruse.

I dined \\ith cousin Le Grand, and afterwards went to the Crown
Tavern, being St. Cecilia's night, where we had an excellent
concert of music, to which we invited the Duke of Lorain.

Saturday morning, 20. — I visited August Schutz, brother Percival
and cousin Le Grand, and returned to Charlton to dinner.

Sunday, 21 — ^Thursday, 25. — I stayed at home. Dean Berkley
and his lady dined with us.

Friday, 26. — Mr. Oglethorp dined with me. He came to acquaint
me that he had hopes the Committee of Council would consent to
the alterations we desire may be made in our Carolina Charter
to be granted. One is that we desire to be independent of the
Governor of Carolina, because it may else be in the power of the
Governor to discourage the settlement as it thrives, and may
give jealousy to the natives there. Another is, that there be not
a rotation of Common Council men, which may throw the manage-
ment into the hands of corrupt men, who will make an exchange
[gradujally of the design.

He told me a story of Bishop Burnet, which he had from
Colonel King, who died Governor of Sheemess, an old man and
full of anecdotes of King Charles the Second's reign. The Colonel
said that the first knowledge of Dr. Burnet at Court was by means
of the witty Duke of Buckingham, to whom he found means to be
introduced, and the Duke seeing him a forward vain man, took
pleasure to pay him off.

One day his Grace, acquainting the King that he knew a clergy-
man whose conversation would please him, his Majesty ordered
him to bring him at night to sup with him at Chaffinch's. The
honour was great, and the young Doctor built mountains in his
head upon it. The Duke having taken this step, proceeded to
tell him that the King was so pleased with him, he resolved to
prefer him to the best dignity in the Church, and that when the
Archbishop of Canterbury should die, he designed him his successor.
None but Burnet would have believed it, but he with thanks to his
Grace for his good offices, depending on it, waited with impatience
for the lucky minute, and forgot not to remind the Duke when
some time after the Archbishop sickened and died. The Duke
did not expect to be called upon so soon, but being a ready man
at an answer, told him it had so fallen out that it was impossible
for the King to perform his intention this time, but the Arch-
bishopric of York should certainly be his when it fell. The Doctor
shrugged his shoulders and, pausing a little, said he must acquiesce,
but he hoped this was in order to advance him higher when the
new Archbishop of Canterbury died ; and in the meantime that
he should have a pension equivalent to the loss of the temporalities
he received by this disappointment. The Duke, in a friendly
way, replied that he wished it could be done, but it was a thing
that would be known, and had such an ugly face, and was so
unusual, that he must not expect it.

When the Archbishop of York died, the Doctor came again to
claim the promise, and then the Duke told him the King was
much inclined to the thing, but that the Duke of York, who was

Wt. 24408. eU

210 DIARY OF THE

Nov. 26-Dec. 22
a bigoted man to his religion, and knew the Doctor's warm zeal
against Popery, had traversed it. Upon this the Doctor repaired to
the Duke's levee, who, showing him no countenance (as he had
an austere look, and kept men at a distance), he concluded all that
Buckingham told him was true ; and set himself to write a book
to show that the Church of England is nearer in some of her
principles to that of Rome than people generally think. But this
book was no sooner published than Buckingham laughed at him,
and exposed him to the Court, where he became a jest. However,
he had still the folly to believe the Duke of York was an enemy
to his preferment, and thought so to his dying day, for which he
did not forgive him.

We find in the Bishop's memoirs, vol. 3, page 634, that he was in
1673 introduced to the Duke of Buckingham, who kept him a whole
night, and presented him to the King, who gave him a long private
audience and made him his chaplain. That during his stay at
Court he used him in so particular a manner, that he w as considered
as a man growing into a high degree of favour. Doubtless if others
thought so, he was not backward to think so himself, and he might
well hope for the Archbishopric when a favourite Minister promised
it from a Prince who so distinguished him. But in the following
page, giving an account of his being presented to the Duke of
York, he tells us he boldly exposed the errors of the Popish Church
to him, and that the Duke said our Bishops were much nearer
the Church of Rome than some of us young men are. This may be,
and yet what Colonel King relates be never the less true, for after
this conversation, the Bishop adds that his Highness expressed
such a liking to him that he commanded him to come often to
him, and afterwards allowed him to come in a private way as oft
as he pleased. Possibly the Doctor to engage his favour may
have writ the book above mentioned, if he writ any such, for I
never saw it, nor heard of it before, unless there be anything
favouring Popery in a book he published that year entitled " The
Mystery of Iniquity Unveiled." The Doctor owns that this
extraordinary favour shown him by the Duke had drawn suspicion
of Popery upon him, and so I leave this matter, only adding thus
much, that when Burnet was disgraced the following year, he
acknowledges vast obligations to the Duke for endeavouring
strenuously to preserve liim, and upon his being turned out of the
chaplainslup, to procure him a living in London, which affection
in one of the Duke's temper so bigoted to religion is unaccountable
on any other foot than that he found or thought the Doctor might
be gained.

But I must do this justice to Dr. Burnet as to say that
Colonel King is out in his chronology, for Sheldon, Archbishop of
Canterbury, died not till 1676, nor Steam, Archbishop of York,
till 1684, both after the disgrace of Burnet, which we see was in
1674.

Saturday, 27 ; Sunday, 28. — Stayed at home.

Monday, 29. — Went to town, and after dinner to the Music Club.

Tuesday, 30. — Called on Mr. Annesley about the draft of my
will. Then to the Royal Society, being the anniversary day, for
electing a president, council and officers. Then we dined together
at Pontach's, in number about fifty. Called at brother Percival's
on my return home.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 211

1731.

Wednesday, 1st December. — Returned to Charlton to dinner,
where I found letters that Oliver and Rainer, who never had voted
for any friend of mine to members of the Corporation, or Mayors
of Harmch, had promised Mr. Clements ; and that Bickerton and
Captain Fuller also promised, whereby the election of Clements is
sure.

Sunday, 5 December. — After Church, young Warren, son of the
Doctor who preached, came home to dine mth me. He told me
Doctor Bentley had carried his cause against the Bishop of Norwich,
Dr. Green, but that the Bishop will appeal against him to the House
of Lords. That Bentley continues to be sovereignly hated by the
University, where last commencement he presided moderator in the
Divinity School, and upon a disputation which was held regarding
some points of Woolston's infamous controversy (who in a blas-
phemous manner denies the truth of all our Saviour's miracles),
refused to stay in the chair, declaring if he suffered such points to
be disputed on, he should be guilty of the sin against the Holy
Ghost, upon which the audience cried out the Doctor is old and
dotes.

Mr. Warren gave a late instance of the Doctor's pride, when
walking the street at Cambridge, and seeing old Dr. Baker, of
St. John's College, the non-juror, who is ninety years' old, he
pointed to him and said to the company, " See there the leamedest
man in England, and everybody knows who is the second." See
more of the Doctor, page 64.*

Monday, 6. — Stayed at home.

Tuesday, 7. — One who called himself Redding, and pretended
his ancestors had an interest in Liscarrol, came to me and desired
I would give him a recommendation to my Lord Clare at Paris,
to get a pension, and to put into it that I knew his family, that
he married a gentlewoman of fortune, but was defrauded of it,
and that he was an honest man and in great want. He added
he had been in the Guards till turned out on Queen Anne's death,
and had since been in Italy, Paris etc. I told him I knew nothing
of his story, nor anything of his character, and therefore could
certify nothing, but seeing him a poor object, gave him a guinea,
and dismissed him. I enter this lest such Irish wanderers, who
are generally rogues, should build anything upon his being to
speaking with me.

Wednesday, 8. — My wife continuing ill, and rather worse, I
was obliged to send to Dr. Hollyngs, who came and visited her at
night. I sent also for the surgeon from Greenwich, but the Doctor
was not of opinion to bleed her.

Thursday, 9 ; Friday, 10.— Stayed at home.

Saturday, 18. — This day brother and sister came down to stay
some days.

Sunday, 19. — Stayed at home, and read prayers, being my wife
and I both out of order.

Wednesday, 22. — My cousin Dering, who waits on the Princesses,
told my brother Percival last week that in a discourse some persons
had with the King, where they affirmed there were none of his
subjects but might by favour and reward be brought to do any-
thing he pleased, "No," said the King, " I know one man who

* i.e. p. 64 of the manuscript diary. See p. 202.

212 DIARY OF THE

Dec. 22-28.
will not, and that is my Lord Percival." I remember the Prince
said the same thing two years ago to my brother Dering. This
may argue that they esteem me, but I believe if I would leap
over a stick they would love me better.

Stayed at home to Christmas, 25 December, when we com-
municated at home, Dean Berkly administering the Sacrament.

Stayed at home to 28 December.

Last week Mr. Annesley advised my delaying no longer in the
affair of Charles Dering's bond to brother Dering, but to file an
action of debt for discovering assets. Whereupon I writ to my
son this day to acquaint Ned Dering with my intention.

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 213

1732

1 January. — ^We came to London for the winter.
2. — I said prayers and read a sermon to my family.

3 January, Monday. — Visited John Temple and cousin Le
Grand.

4 January, Tuesday. — Visited Frank Clerk. Went to Court.
The Prince promised me that he would take [care] of Captain
Demaresque, and write to Lord Torrington that he should have
a ship. The Queen asked after Dr. Couraye. Mr. Bagnall came
to see me, and Mr. Stringer and cousin Ned Southwell.

Wednesday, 5 January. — I visited Horace Walpole, Mr. Soley,
Earl of Effingham, Mr. Duncomb, and the Speaker. Li the evening
Mr. Ogle thorp came to me.

Thursday, 6. — I visited brother Percival and Sir Thomas Hanmer
and Lord Grantham. Then went to Court. The Earl of Grantham
was likewise to see me, and brother Parker, who came last night
from Suffolk.

Friday, 7. — Visited Sir Robert Walpole, Sir Robert Maud,
Lord Wilmington, brother Parker, Lord Bathurst, and
Lord Ashbumham. Heard little news, but the seizing Charles
Caesar, Esq., Knight of the Shire for Hertfordshire, his house and
goods in town and country for debt, and the like done by Sir Greorge
Oxenden.

Mr. Caesar was always looked on as a man of sense and fortune,
and had a very great employment under Queen Anne ; his estate
was 3,500^. a year, and he was not noted for extravagance.

Sir George Oxenden is a proud, conceited, lewd man, but one
would think an estate of 2,500Z. a year, and the post of Lord of
the Treasury, would have kept men out of gaol, from whence
now it is only his being a member of ParUament that does it.
Sir Robert Walpole was his patron, and gave him the great employ-
ment he has, and in return he got the lady of my Lord Walpole,
Sir Robert's son, with child, and this unlawful issue will inherit the
estate. It is said my Lady Walpole owned it under her hand-
writing.

Saturday, 8. — Visited Mr. Ferguson, the two Mr. Schutz,
Sir George Savil, the Speaker, Cousin Ned Southwell, and cousin
Betty Southwell.

Sunday, 9. — Prayers and sermon at home, then went to Court.

Monday, 10 January. — I dreamt last night that I visited Sir Robert
Walpole, and after a good deal of easy discourse I took up a letter
addressed to him that lay on the table, and asked him if the foreign
letters were come. Sir Robert answered " No, but that was a
letter he had writ and directed to himself." Upon this we talked
a little of the difficulties Ministers He under to keep their stations,
and I said I would not be one for a million of money a year, that
Hfe was short, and a long account to be made up against hereafter,
that nothing was more suitable or agreeable to advanced age as
quiet and the command of one's own time, and I dared say he
himself would in a little while resolve to leave business, having
made a good fortune. He answered smilingly he did think
of it, and with a good parcel of dignity and preferments. '* What,"
said I, " do you intend to take Orders.'* " Yes," replied he, " I've

214 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 10-14
learimig enough." Here is a dream that I believe never entered
into the mind of any man living before, sleeping or waking.

The night before I dreamt I lost my hat, and yesterday it came
out, for when I called for it, it could not be found, being taken
away by mistake by one who left me his own in the room of it.
These idle rovings of the brain have by some weak, though learned
men, been thought of consequence to set down in their journals,
but men of sense do not attend to them. I only noted this for the
oddness of the scheme, and that my thoughts should continue
regular so long in a matter I never heard talked of in jest or earnest,
and when I am sure I had not heard Sir Robert's name mentioned
for several days.

I dined this day at Sir George Savil's in Lesterfields, with
Sir Robert Walpole, Horace Walpole, Mr. Doddington, Sir William
Strickland, and Sir Charles Hotham.

Wednesday, 12. — My daughter Katherine was this day twenty
years old. I went to Court. Mr. Oglethorp met Dean Berkly
at my house, and we sat from dinner till ten o'clock, discoursing of
our Carolina project. The Prince again told me he would take
care of Dumaresque. I had a letter to meet the members of
Parliament at the Cockpit to see the King's Speech, which he will
make to-morrow, but I never yet went to any of those meetings.
They have an air of servileness I don't like, and if a member should
happen to vote against anything recommended in the Speech, he
is not well looked on by his friends for doing so, after having
appeared among a number of gentlemen who were resolved to
approve all.

Thursday, 13 January. — This morning I visited John Temple
and cousin Le Grand. Then went to the House, which was fuller
than I expected. The King came to the House of Lords, and
made a very satisfactory speech, which may be seen in print.

My Lord Tyrconnel moved the address of thanks, and
Mr. Clutterbuck seconded it.

Sir Wilfrid Lawson said he should concur with the Address,
but was surprised that notwithstanding the general quiet and
peace his Majesty had assured us of, the Spaniards still took our
ships in the West Indies, and that the King of Spain, when
Captain Bonam had proved the unlawfulness of his being made
a prize by their guard de cost ships, should refer him for satisfaction
to the very Governor who had made him prize, for it was referring
him to one who was both judge and party.

Mr. Shippen said he should be against the Address, and reflected
on Lord Tyrconnel for abandoning his party, for he had been ever
since the King came in against the Court measures.

After Mr. Comwallis had spoken something that was little to
the purpose in behalf of the x\ddress. Will. Pulteney made an
invective speech against the Ministry for not doing what is now
effected seven years ago, and compared Sir Robert Walpole to
an unskilful pilot, who sets out with his ship in fair M^eather and
involves himself in danger of quicksands, but happening afterwards
to arrive safe at port, arrogates to himself much skill in sailing,
though he by chance only arrived at the port.

Pelham, the Paymaster, replied, justified the Address, as also
the King's measures ; he also spoke in defence of Lord Tyrconnel
for leaving hiR party, and believed his example would be followed.

i^IRST VISCOI^NT PERCIVAL. 2l5

1731-2.

Sir William Wyndham declared against the Address, and blamed
the Ministry, whom he likened to a man who in a room endeavouring
to get out, though the door was open, broke his shins against every
chair and stool, tiU finding the door he valued himself upon being
got out, so he said the Ministry at last blundered themselves out
of the ill situation they were in some years past and now would
pass for men of wisdom.

Horace Walpole spoke well, and explained the prudence of the
measures hitherto. He showed the case with them was as if a
set of men had bought a good bargain, such as others were
blaming them continually for not doing, yet being at last
done without letting the complainers have a share in the
transaction, these grew angry and disapproved it on that account.
Had they been advised with and had a share on the profit, they
would have thought the bargain good.

Mr. How said he was still unsatisfied of the grounds we had to
thank his Majesty for a Peace, and that it was too early to return
our thanks at all till we had examined every particular of his
speech.

Mr. Henry Bromly answered him.

Mr. Danvers said he was not against addressing thanks, but he
wondered to hear nothing in his Majesty's speech of reducing the
standing army, seeing all is at peace and our expenses are to be
lessened as his Majesty assures us. He wishes therefore the House
would put in some words to that effect.

Mr. Oglethorp said he should be for the Address, for our Kings
ought to be respected, and if we dislike anything, it is the Ministry
we must level our resentment at. He was for passing by past
faults, and looking to the future, which those who have the
administration will do well to conduct with prudence, or they must
expect impeachment. That he thinks many things might have
been expected in the Speech, as also in our Address of Thanks ;
as an absolute security from Spanish depredations, an immediate
satisfaction for their past robberies, a reduction of our standing
army, and some promise to his Majesty that we would make our
Militia useful. And last, though not the least thing requiring
our attention, some care of the Protestant religion, which will
be quite destroyed in Germany soon as the Pragmatic Sanction
takes effect. For the Emperor, since his despair of having male
issue, has judged it policy not to persecute the Protestants of
Bohemia, Silesia, and Hungary, because they might not be
provoked to oppose the settlement of his dominions in the
female line, but when this is once effected, and the Emperor
no longer in danger of those countries maintaining their rights
of electing their kings, which the Pragmatic Sanction takes away,
then he fears we shall see a persecution and utter rooting out
of the Protestants in that Prince's dominions ; he wished therefore
that in our treaty with the Emperor some care may be taken of
this matter.

Then the question was put that the words should stand heads
of our address, and some Noes were given, but nobody divided
on it. There were about three hundred members, and we sat till
near seven o'clock.

Friday, 14. — The House agreed to the address, and ordered to
carry it up to-morrow.

216 DIARY OF TH«

Jan. 15-26

Saturday, 15. — We carried up the address. I visited
Lord Palmerston, cousin Southwells, and Le Grand, and Dr. Couraye
dined with us.

Sunday, 16. — After prayers and sermon, went to Court, where
the Prince told me he took it ill I did not bring my niece Dering to
him, for you know, said he, I love her for more reasons than
one.

I heard that last Thursday the audience at Drury Lane would
not suffer the players to act Lieutenant Bodin's dull comedy,
but as soon as the curtain was drawn up, called out for another
play. The tumult was great, for several who were curious to see
this, cried '' Play, play," others pulled out of their pockets their
catcalls, etc., but Mr. Powell, a Welsh gentleman of estate, offering
to speak, silence was made. He told Wllks, the player, that two
persons had the night before been hauled out of the gallery by
soldiers for showing their disapprobation of the play, which was
contrary to the liberty of the subject and right of the playhouse,
where those who paid their money were at liberty to approve or
disapprove the show. That the highest power on earth should
not force the free bom subjects of England to approve of nonsense,
and therefore he required this play should be dismissed and another
acted. Wilks, very submissively, told him that they were not
prepared on the sudden to change their piece, neither the proper
actors nor dresses were ready, but if the audience pleased to take
their money again, it should be restored them. The audience were
contented, and all trooped home.

It was beneath the Court to take on them the patronage of
this simple play, and risk their authority against the universal
judgment of the town, and what gave great distaste was that in
order to support the representation, great numbers went to the
House the first day of acting, every man with an oak club in his
hand, as if it were to deter men from cat -calling the play, for so
they gave out.

Nevertheless, when the Prince appeared there on the poet's
night, who was known to patronize it, the audience out of respect
to him made no disturbance.

Brother and sister Percival, with Dr. Hollins, his wife and
daughter, dined with me.

Monday, 17. — I visited Sir Thomas Hanmer, brother Percival,
Duke of Grafton, Earl of Grantham, and then went to the House.
In the evening visited Sir John Evelyn.

Tuesday, 18. — I went to the House, and from thence to dinner
at Sir Robert Walpole's, where the rest of the company were
Lord Malpas, Sir George Savil, my brother Parker, Sir William
Strickland, Mr. Doddington, Mr. Camel and Horace Walpole.
After dinner I went to the opera.

Wednesday, 19. — Visited Lord Lusam, Sir WiUiam Wentworth,
Duke of Shandois, Earl of Pembroke, who kept me two hours to
view his fine paintings, and gave me the description of them in
print, Bishop of London,. Lord Wilmington, Lord President, and
Lord Bathurst. Went to the House, and after dinner to the
Committee of Council, which sat upon our charter for settling
colonies in America. The Lords of the Council there present were
the Lord President, Earl of Marchmont, Lord Torrington, Sir WiUiam
Strickland, Horace Walpole and Earl of Islay. They approved

FIRST VISCOUNT PERCIVAL. 217

1731-2.

the charter as altered, and we concerned therein acquiesced in
their pleasure, though against the grain.

Thursday, 20 January. — A great Court at the Prince's, being
his birthday. In the evening I went to the Vocal Club.

Friday, 21. — Visited the Earl of Scarborough, who promised
that he will vote for IVIr. ComwaUis to be second master of the
Charterhouse ; then went to the House, where we only voted
8,000 seamen for the service of the year. Lord Wilmington and
Duke of Grafton came to see me.

The House being early up, I went with the other trustees for
the Carolina Colony to see a house proper for keeping our office
in. Then returned home to dinner. This day being taken ill of a
cold I caught in the House, I remained the afternoon at home, as
also the following days till Wednesday.

Wednesday, 26. — I visited Lord Biondell and Jack Temple.
Then went to the House, where on Sir William Strickland's motion
for 17,709 men for the service of this year, a debate arose whether
that number should be granted or only 12,000. The Court carried
it against the latter by a majority of 241 against 171. The Speaker
was with the minority. I have given an account of the debate
to my son this night.

The marriage consummated Saturday last between WiUiam,
Duke of Cleveland and Southampton, and Lady Harriet Finch,
sister to the present Earl of Nottingham and Winchilsea, has
been the talk of the town ever since. It has been concluding these
three months between the two mothers, but kept so secret that
even my Lord Nottingham knew nothing of it, for being a generous
man they were sure he would not approve the sacrifice of his sister
to such a kind of husband, who is said to be a greater fool than his
father, and withal ill-natured, covetous, jealous, obstinate as a
mule, and lascivious as a stone horse. He has not yet taken his
seat in the House of Lords, nor will perhaps, his delight being
altogether in low things and mean company, and his chief occupa-
tion to rub down his horses, for wliich his grooms give him a penny,
which he counts all gain. Nothing, therefore, could colour the
marrying such a brute (for just excuse there can he none) except the
title of a Duchess and a vast jointure. Lady Harriet, an Earl's
daughter, having but five thousand pounds fortune, was not able
on the interest of it to live according to her rank, and there was no
prospect of her marrying elsewhere. But, unfortunately for her,
the Duke, though he has a great estate, more than 100,000Z. a year,
was able to make a settlement but of 1,200Z. a year, the estate being
entailed, and passing to another family should he die without
children. All my Lady, therefore, has for it, is to save what she
can out of the annual rents, but whether this obstinate and covetous
fool will suffer her is what time will show.

He knew nothing of the affair till the moment it was done :
the two mothers concerted to meet at my Lady Nottingham's in
Bloomsbury Square, and bring their children with them by way of
common visit, and then the Duchess of Cleveland, in an easy
manner, asked her son if he cared to be married. The Duke
answered " Yes." *' What do you say then," said she, " to my
Lady Harriet Finch? Will you marry her?" "Yes," replied
he. " Why, then," said she, " the sooner you do it the better ;
here she is, and my Lady Nottingham's chaplain is at home. Let

218 DIARY OF THE

Jan. 26-reb. 7
us send for him." So, producing the writings she had prepared,
the Duke took a pen which lay on the table, and signed them, and
the minister, who waited in the next room, did his office.

This night died Caspar, Count Bothmar, of old age. Yet he
wrestled twent3''-four hours against death. For four days it was
expected over night that he would not live till next morning,
and for two years he had reason to know his end approached.
Yet within the four days above-mentioned he dictated a letter to
Hanover that the pickles, salads, and wines sent him every year
might be prepared for his use next summer.

His nepheAv is much hurt and disappointed by his death, he
having left him but 200/. a 5''ear, and 300/. in money for mourning,
which last was obtained by his friends with great difficulty,
though there never was a more observant and careful nurse than
he, a greater slave to his humours, nor one who wanted it more.

This night the King put the fiat to our Carolina Charter.

Thursday, 27. — I stayed at home, and Friday, 28.

Saturday, 29. — I visited Sir Thomas Hanmer, Colonel Schutz,
Lord Grantham, Lord Wilmington, and then went to Court.
Lord Wilmington told me the design of adding a clause in one
of our Irish Bills for repealing the sacramental test in Ireland has
failed ; and talking of wool and woollen goods run from Ireland,
he said he should be for allowmg Ireland to carry their friezes
where they pleased and even to export blanketing, if Wales would
come into it, but this conditionally that Ireland will be faithful
in preventing the clandestine exportation of wool cloths and
stuffs.

It is confirmed that Miss Vane, the maid of honour, writ a letter
to the Queen to desire leave to go for some months to her grand-
father's, whereupon the Queen, who knew her familiarities with
the Prince, sent her word she might go for good and all. The
Prince has taken a house for her, which grieves me much.

Sunday, 30. — Went to St. James's Church. Brother and sister
Percival dined with me and Dr. Couraye.

Monday, 31. — Went Avith my wife to Charlton. Dined there and
returned at night.

Tuesday, 1 February. — I visited Colonel Middleton, brother
Percival, the Duke of Chandois, and went to the House. Dined
with cousin Southwell, and went to the Opera.

Wednesday, 2 February. — I visited Lord Buckley, Duke of
Grafton, and Mr. Duncomb, and then went to Counsellor Annesley
and signed my last will and testament, dated this day.
Mr. Aimesley, his clerk Mr. Barsham, and my servant William
were witnesses thereto. At my return home I burnt my will made
in 1725.

Cousin Fortrey and Mr. Schutz dined with me, and in the after-
noon I went to our weekly concert.

My Lord Pembroke came to acquaint me that he was come
from the Charterhouse, where Mr. Comwallis failed of being elected
second master for want of being five months of sufficient age,
according to the rules of the Foundation ; that he was pleased
however, to find he had so good a character as many gave him.
My Lord told me that the cartoons of Raphael at Hampton Court
were rescued by him from ruin ; that three years before the
Revolution they were in pawn to Mr. Povej'' for 2,000Z., and

fIRST VISCOtJNT PERCIVAL. 21 9

1731-2.

that if his Lordship would pay that money and 700/. interest
due he might have them, but knowing them to belong to the
Crown he would not meddle with them. There were then
nine pieces. At the Revolution, my Lord acquainted King
William with them, who very joyfully redeemed them, and
ordered Walton to repair them, and set them up at Hampton
Court. But two of the nine were so damaged, that they were
good for nothing, so we see only seven. He told me Bellairs'
history of these cartoons, which may be seen in his account
of Raphael's works, but that in the Council books it appeared
that they were in England in Henry the Eighth's time ; that
Raphael drew them at Pope Leo the Tenth's command, for to
make tapestry from, and they were sent to Antwerp for that
purpose, which city was in that time the only famous place for
such work. That when the tapestry was fmished. Pope Leo,
who was an extravagant man, had not money to pay for them,
whereupon it was agreed the cartoons should remain at Antwerp
by way of security for payment of the tapestry, and the hangings
were sent to Rome, where they are still shown in St. Peter's Church
on set days. That the owners of the cartoons, seeing no hopes
of their being redeemed, sold them to Henry the Eighth. How
greatly they were valued appears by the offer the King of Spain
made to resign to the Crown of England all the lands in the new
world discovered by Columbus, who a little before had returned
from his first discovery of Hispaniola ; indeed, there was not
much expected from that discovery, when the King made that
offer, but it is a noble character of these pieces that such an offer
was made. There were nineteen pieces in all, but where many of
them are is not known. My Lord had this account from old
Sir Edward Nicolas, who was Secretary of State to King Charles
the First, and told my Lord that he read this in the old Council
Book of King Henry's reign.

Thursday, 3 February. — I visited Mr. Tuffnell, Sir WilUam
Wentworth, Mr. Withrington and Mr. Clark. Then went to the
House, where the Pension Bill (the same as last year) passed through
the Committee, and was ordered to be reported to-morrow.

Then Sir Thomas Robinson presented a petition from the sufferers
by the Charitable Corporation, which was seconded by
Mr. Oglethorp, and we voted a Committee of twenty-one to be
chosen by ballot on Tuesday next to enquire into that great abuse.
Captain Vernon moved that the Committee might be a secret
Committee, upon which the House divided, and we who went out
were 132. The Noes, who stayed in, were 212.

Friday, 4 February. — Called on brother Percival and Mr. Cornwall,
then went to the House. Met our Carolina gentlemen, and pre-
pared a draft of an account of our design in order to be printed.

Saturday, 5. — Called on Mr. Signoret and Mr. Clerk. Went to
Court. Cousin Comwallis and Mr. Clerke dined with me. Li the
evening, my brother Percival and Dr. Delany visited me.

Sunday, 6. — Prayers and sermon at home. Then went to
Court. Mrs. Minshull dined with us. Li the evening went to
chapel.

Monday, 7. — Called on Mr. Hambleton, Sir Edmond Andrews,
Mrs. Minshull and Dr. More ; then went to the House. Passed the
evening in my study.

220 DIARY OF THE

Feb. 8-12

Tuesday, 8. — This morning I prepared my list of twenty-one
members to be balloted for, and appointed the Committee to
examine into the abuses of the Charitable Corporation. They
are as follows : — Sir Thomas Robinson, Samuel Sandys, James
Oglethorp, Edward Vernon, Edward Huges, Sir Roger Bradshaigh,
Robert More, Christopher Tilson, John Plumtree, Thomas Bramston,
Thomas Clutterbuck, John Conduit, John Knight, Joseph Danvers,
Philip Gibbon, George Heathcot, Richard Pottinger, Charles Ross,
Wilham Sloper, Samuel Tuffnell, Thomas Winnington.

I went to Sir Robert Walpole's levee, and then to Sir Robert
Maud, and then to the House, where about four hundred members
gave in their lists.

Wednesday, 9 February. — This morning, at nine a clock, I
went to Mr. Hucks, in Great Russell Street, where by appointment
came Mr. Oglethorp, Mr. Digby, Mr. Heathcot, Mr. More, and
Mr. Eyles. From thence we went to wait on the Duke of Newcastle
in Lincoln's Inn Fields, to desire him to move the King to sign
the warrant for our Carolina Charter, which he promised. Then
we went to the House, where Sir Robert Walpole moved to revive
the duty on salt, and to lay but a shilling in the pound on land
this year. He said he would not propose it if he did not intend
that this ea